By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | A grant fund aimed at bringing high-speed internet access to underserved areas of the state is being considered by a House committee.
A subcommittee of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee this week met to discuss H. 3780, known as the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Program. The lead sponsor is Anderson Republican Brian White, former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He said the program goes hand-in-hand with a technical college scholarship bill he sponsored and is currently working through the Senate.
White told Statehouse Report that the utilities subcommittee will continue to meet to get details of the bill settled. The first meeting was Wednesday, and White said the next meeting will occur over the next two weeks. Nothing has been scheduled as of deadline.
In other news:
Hemp hits Senate floor. A House bill that allows hemp cultivation through an application in the state could be addressed by second and third reading as early as next week, according to Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Chair Paul Campbell, R-Charleston. The bill aims to match federal legislation legalizing growing the cannabis cultivar known for its industrial and textile use. Hemp is also used for manufacturing medicinal cannabidiol. Under the proposed bill, would-be growers will apply for a permit through the state Department of Agriculture. South Carolina previously only allowed up to 40 farmers to grow hemp as part of a tightly-controlled pilot program. Campbell said if the Senate approves the bill quickly, farmers in the state could be growing the crop by this summer.
Budget debate. The House will begin debating the state’s $9.3 billion budget Monday on the floor. House members aren’t expecting it to take too long to pass — Tuesday or Wednesday could be the day they wrap up, sources said. They give credit to freshman budget writer Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, for working with many other lawmakers and stakeholders during the budget process.
Crossover. The date where contentious pieces of legislation are considered dead is April 11. After April 11, a supermajority is needed to take up bills approved by the other chamber.
Weekly update on Palmetto Priorities
Throughout the legislative session, we’ll provide you relevant updates related to our list of Palmetto Priorities, which are 10 big policy areas where major progress is needed for South Carolina to escape the bottom of lots of lists. Over the last week:
EDUCATION: House moves forward as Senate mulls. The House passed its version of education reform this week. It includes raising the minimum pay for new teachers and gives the state superintendent more ability to take over failing school districts. The Senate is already planning some sweeping changes, including adding a teacher bill of rights and limiting class sizes. Read more about the Senate’s version.
POVERTY: Anti-poverty campaign launches in state. Working Hero South Carolina launched this week. The statewide campaign will work to ensure that every eligible South Carolinian gets the earned income tax credits. The campaign is led by communications strategist and community activist Rania Jamison, who will be speaking about the new effort at Charleston Black Expo Economic Empowerment Summit March 9.
HEALTH CARE: Feds trash state regulations on hospital growth. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a report saying state regulation of hospital growth is often ineffective. In South Carolina, the state Certification of Need and Health Facility Licensure Act requires any health care system or company that wants to build a new facility, add beds to an existing facility, purchase medical equipment more than $600,000 or spend more than $2 million on a capital expenditure to receive approval from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The law has come under fire, particularly in areas of high growth, such Berkeley County, where competing hospitals have sought permits and entered into drawn-out legal battles last years. Read more.
GUNS: Waiting-period bill filed. S.C. Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, has introduced S. 605, which would require a 10-day waiting period for criminal background checks for anyone wanting to transfer a gun, with several provisions.
POLITICS: Primary, voting machines, campaign disclosure and dark money. Dark money featured large this week in Columbia after an anonymous mailer deriding medical marijuana and Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort. Sen. Paul Campbell said the state has “no control” over such measures while lawmakers have to make regular reportings.
“You can have big money coming in to try to influence what is coming into the General Assembly,” he told Statehouse Report. “I just want them to go through the same qualifications I have to go through.”
Also this week, Rep. Gary Clary, R-Pickens, introduced two campaign disclosure bills: (H. 4191) that would require more information from lawmakers and H. 4192 that seeks people who make independent expenditures of more than $500 to file a state report, with other provisions.
In elections, Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, introduced S. 628 that would allow in-person and mail-in absentee voting in presidential preference primaries, with several provisions. And Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, introduced H. 4157 that gives a deadline for offers for a new statewide voting machine and establishment of a special panel to evaluate proposals.
Looking ahead
Click below for other items coming up in the Statehouse:
- House calendar
- Senate calendar
- Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com
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