Unlike the Senate’s proposal, which tied funding to the Education Lottery and placed a permanent cap on participation, the House version guarantees $6,000 per student with future increases tied to the State Aid to Classrooms formula.This ensures families and schools can count on stable funding instead of relying on fluctuating lottery revenues. We also removed the participation cap after 2026, allowing more families to benefit from school choice in the years ahead.

I have always believed that education is not one-size-fits-all. While Joe and I and our children all attended public schools for K-12, we know that this does not work perfectly for everyone. Many of our schools are overcrowded, have big classroom sizes, and in some cases are just huge (such as our two high schools in Mount Pleasant). This works fine for some children, but not for others. Parents—not bureaucrats—should decide what’s best for their children. This bill delivers on that promise, expanding educational opportunity while ensuring strong oversight, financial accountability, and a program that will stand the test of time. 

Protecting Children from Online Exploitation: 

While we worked to expand opportunities for children in the classroom, we also took action to protect them from the dangers of online exploitation. This week, the House Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to H.3046, a bill that strengthens South Carolina’s laws against child predators by closing dangerous loopholes in our sexual exploitation statutes.As technology evolves, so do the threats that predators use to target children. This bill ensures that AI-generated and digitally altered images of minors are treated the same as any other form of child exploitation. It strengthens penalties for those who create, distribute, or possess these materials and requires that offenders be added to the Sex Offender Registry to ensure law enforcement and communities are aware of their crimes. My commitment to public safety and protecting the most vulnerable has always been at the forefront of my work, and I voted for H.3046 in the Judiciary Committee. As a member of the House Republican Caucus, I will continue to support legislation that ensures South Carolina remains a place where criminals are held accountable and our children are safe.

Delivering a Conservative, Fiscally Responsible Budget:

This week, the Ways & Means Committee continued work on the state budget to ensure it reflects our conservative values—cutting taxes, reducing wasteful spending, and making smart investments in South Carolina’s future.

I have always believed that every tax dollar belongs to the hardworking people of South Carolina. That’s why this budget provides over $1 billion in tax relief, including $800 million in property tax cuts and over $200 million in income tax reductions. We are committed to keeping money in your pockets and ensuring that our state remains competitive for businesses and job creators.

At the same time, we are making critical investments in areas that matter most. This budget keeps us on track to raise teacher salaries to $50,000 by 2026 (they are already much higher in Charleston County), ensures continued support for school safety, workforce training, and infrastructure improvements, and funds much-needed law enforcement pay raises. We also prioritized protecting taxpayer dollars by requiring state agencies to cut unnecessary vacancies and implement new fraud prevention measures.

I believe that fiscal conservatism isn’t just about cutting spending—it’s about making sure that every dollar we spend is used wisely. This budget is a reflection of the House Republican Caucus’ commitment to responsible governance, strong economic growth, and ensuring that South Carolina remains a place where businesses thrive, families prosper, and government works for the people—not the other way around.

To check out a preview of the General Appropriations Bill for 2025, as well as Gov. McMaster’s Executive Budget, click here. These documents will be updated in the coming weeks as more of the budget is finalized.

We’re Not Stopping:

The work doesn’t stop here. In the coming weeks, I’ll continue supporting and advancing policies that put South Carolina families first. Whether it’s ensuring parents have a voice in their children’s education, fighting for lower taxes, or strengthening public safety, we will work to continue delivering results. I’m honored to fight for our conservative values and work alongside House Republicans to make South Carolina stronger, safer, and more prosperous. As always, I appreciate your support and look forward to keeping you updated on our efforts at the State House.

Around the District and the Lowcountry:

Friday evening, Joe and I attended a wonderful celebration culminating a month-long recognition of Black History Month at Boone Hall Plantation. It was inspiring to hear the Keynote Speaker, Lt. General David Wilson from the Lowcountry, who traveled down from the Pentagon with staff members to share memories and great stories with the attendees. Black History is American History, and I recall as a student learning about many iconic figures including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Rosa Parks, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and countless others. Sen. Robert Smalls of SC, the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate was one of the focal point heroes of Lt. Gen. Wilson’s presentation, and he told the story with lively examples and even threw in some Gullah Geechee dialect, which was fascinating. I was so glad to vote in the SC House last year to commission the design and erect a statue of Robert Smalls on the State House grounds. We should never remove or destroy artifacts of the past as they are an integral part of our history, both good and bad. Instead, we should add new statues and memorials to those who were deserving but may have been overlooked. 

Sheriff Carl Ritchie was on hand to address the crowd, and did a wonderful job briefly bringing everyone up to date regarding the Charleston County Sheriff’s office, including the appointment of his Under Sheriff, Tyrone Simmons who grew up in the Snowden Community. I was honored to also be asked to speak, and shared some of the current projects and bills to help solve problems in the District including supporting the 1904 Long Point School House, and a bill, H.4071 to encourage Heirs Property owners to clear their title without fear of an immediate massive tax reassessment. This bill can pave the way for better opportunities for home improvements and ownership, encouraging young people to stay in the community, and preserving the culture of these unique settlements. Thanks to John Wright and his committee for planning the month-long event of workshops, classes, and cultural highlights with the conclusion being this very special evening. Also, thanks to Executive Director Jim Westerhold of Boone Hall Plantation and his team for hosting the events throughout the month. It was truly remarkable to be in attendance with so many descendants of the slaves who served in this location, and realize how far we have come.