As we wrap up another busy week at the State House, I want to provide you with an update on the significant legislative activities and the progress of various important bills that will impact our great state of South Carolina.

The House Judiciary Committee has approved an amendment to ensure that only registered citizens can participate in our electoral process. This move is crucial for maintaining the integrity of our elections and ensuring that every vote cast is lawful and valid.

This week marked the completion of the Senate's budget discussions on H.5100 – the General Appropriations Bill, and H.5101 – the Capital Reserve Fund. The Senate made significant progress, and both bills, having been amended, are now returned to the House for further debate. In the coming weeks, we will work diligently to finalize the budget, ensuring it aligns with our state’s fiscal goals and priorities.

This week, the House Judiciary Committee tackled S.915, a bill initially introduced in the Senate to create the Executive Office of Health and Policy. The committee opted to significantly amend the bill, substituting the Senate's language with the provisions of H.4927—a similar bill previously passed by the House earlier this session. The amendment aims to streamline healthcare services and improve coordination across various agencies by establishing the Executive Office of Health and Policy. This move enhances the governor's oversight in public health emergencies, ensuring a unified and effective response across South Carolina. The big difference is that this bill already changes the language to say that only the Governor can call out the National Guard (which in the House version was an amendment that came just before mine), and only the Governor can command Sheriff's Departments and local law enforcement in a major health emergency. These important limitations were part of the amendment I brought that was ruled "not germane." Apparently, the Senate considered these changes to be germane. If you have any other questions or concerns about this bill, please read the excellent commentary by Palmetto Promise Senior Fellow Oran Smith regarding the importance of cutting redundancy and streamlining the various related agencies for healthcare in our state. We cannot simply leave the two separated halves of DHEC "as is." They have to be organized, and doing so without allowing unelected bureaucrats to have the power over our various law enforcement agencies is the most logical way to go.

The Senate has prioritized the "Help Not Harm" bill (H.4624), setting it for special order. This legislation, initially passed by the House, seeks to regulate gender transition procedures for minors, aligning with our commitment to safeguard the well-being of South Carolina's youth. The bill prohibits healthcare professionals from administering gender transition procedures to individuals under eighteen. It also directs the South Carolina Medicaid Program to cease coverage for these procedures for individuals under twenty-six and bans the use of public funds for gender-affirming care. Please understand that while many of us as lawmakers completely respect the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their children's well-being, the science of treating gender dysphoria with puberty blockers and/or gender related hormones has already moved in the direction that proves these treatments do far more harm than good. There is plenty of evidence from countries in Europe who started this long before the US that they have now moved against allowing these procedures due to the medical evidence of all the harm caused. I cannot understand why some of the medical community here in the United States are ignoring what is widely publicized elsewhere. There should be absolutely no politics involved when it comes to the well-being of our children, and for medical professionals to convince parents who are trying to help their children to deal with serious emotional issues that they can effectively improve their child's condition by attempting to physically modify their birth gender is extremely concerning.

I was proud to vote in favor of H.4042, which formally adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism into state law. This critical legislation, now awaiting the governor's signature, reinforces our firm stance against antisemitism and our commitment to safeguarding the Jewish community from hate crimes.

In a strategic move to ensure the passage of critical educational legislation this session, the House Education and Public Works Committee successfully amended key House education bills onto various Senate bills. This maneuver aims to expedite the legislative process and enhance the likelihood of these bills becoming law this year. Among the bills amended were the Educator Assistance Act (H.4280), which provides for a permanent State Board of Education-issued certificate and modifies contract withdrawal and breach penalties for educators. These amendments to Senate bills highlight our proactive approach to addressing educational reforms and supporting our educators across the state.

This extremely important bill was heard in the House Judiciary Committee this week, and after lengthy testimony and deliberation, was sent back to the Subcommittee for further amendment. While I have heard that it is likely to be brought back to the Committee this coming week and then to the House for a full vote, I urge everyone to email members of the Judiciary Committee to pass this bill this year. Fentanyl is the current "drug of choice" that is often laced into other illicit drugs and poisons the unknowing user, but in the future it could be something else. When someone dies by poisoning at the hands of a drug dealer, that dealer should be held responsible for homicide. Remember, many of these deaths were caused by one pill, and calling this an "overdose" makes it sound like the person was a drug addict who went too far. This is often not the case with fentanyl poisoning, and many, many young people and individuals of all ages in the Lowcountry have been lost to this terrible scourge.

As we move into the final weeks of this legislative session, we remain focused on reconciling the House and Senate versions of the budget to ensure that our fiscal plans reflect the priorities and needs of all South Carolinians. 

On Wednesday morning, it was our joy and privilege to welcome and honor the Lady Bengals Cheerleading Team of Lucy Beckham High School to the State House! These AAAA State Champions had an incredible year, with a 7-0 undefeated record. Under the leadership of Coach Courtney Fachko, the team bested a field of 15 competitors, ultimately beating the team from A.C. Flora High to win the Championship at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Nov. 18th, 2023. My great friend Dr. Justine DeCastro, whose direct primary care practice is right here in Mount Pleasant was there to help the team including her daughter. Congratulations to the Lucy Beckham Lady Bengals Cheerleading Team for your outstanding achievements this year!!

On Tuesday evening, the Citadel Alumni Association held their 47th Annual Legislative Barbecue at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia where they always invite the entire General Assembly. It was great to visit with so many friends & colleagues with Citadel connections. I had a chance to catch up with Gen. McCarty, our Adjutant General for the SC National Guard about my bill, H.4954 to protect our citizens from the effects of an Electromagnetic Pulse event. Secretary of State Mark Hammond brought me up to date on a few things happening regarding digital notaries and other issues related to business permits. Vince Northcutt, a native from Mount Pleasant, told me he and his family had moved to Newberry, where he is running for the State House. Also it was great to visit with Morgan Kiser, who lives in Mount Pleasant and was one of the main champions of our Safe Boating bill that finally passed last year and was signed by the Governor. You never know who you'll run into at this annual event.