Only three legislative days remain until the crossover deadline. In order for a bill to have a chance of becoming law this year under normal circumstances, it must receive initial passage in at least one legislative chamber (House or Senate) by the end of next week. This week my House colleagues and I worked extended hours to clear time on the calendar so even more legislation can clear the cutoff date. I’ve provided some highlights below:
Anti-Dismemberment Abortion Act
I’m very pleased to report the House of Representatives passed the Anti-Dismemberment Abortion Act this week. We fought a group of about 20 liberal democratic legislators on the floor this week in order to get it done and ultimately prevailed after lengthy debate. This law restricts the immoral procedure of dismemberment and imposes appropriate penalties for any abortion provider that is found guilty of engaging in the gruesome practice.
School Choice Progress
South Carolina’s Educational Credits for Exceptional Needs Children (ECENC) helps students with special needs attend credentialed independent schools. Parents can choose either tuition tax credits or scholarships funded by Exceptional SC, which relies on tax-credited donations from individuals and corporations. Legislation introduced by members of the SC House today would enshrine the popular program in permanent law.
Established in 2013, the ENENC was re-booted in 2016 through consolidation of competing scholarship providers into a single statewide nonprofit, Exceptional SC, governed by a collation of private school associations and regulated by the SC Department of Revenue.
HOA Reform
HOA reform is long overdue, and this week the House voted unanimously in a bipartisan manner to ensure HOA’s operate with added transparency, accountability and fairness. Under this new proposal, home sellers must tell home buyers at the time of sale if a property is regulated by an HOA. Additionally, this bill adds homeowner protections by allowing more disputes to be settled in lower courts, avoiding the need for expensive legal bills in some cases. Finally, the bill requires any HOA to give public notice prior to raising any yearly fees on association membership.
It is an honor to serve you and your family in the General Assembly. If you ever find yourself in need of assistance navigating state government, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with my colleagues in the House, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected].