Rep. Brandon Guffey, Gavin’s father and one of my fellow freshman colleagues, has turned a tragedy into action to prevent other families from suffering a similar fate. His bill, H.3583, would make sextortion a crime punishable by up to twenty years in prison and an additional twenty years if the crime results in the death of the victim. The bill would also require school districts to inform students and faculty about the dangers of sextortion. The bill would separate the offenses of a minor from those of an adult perpetrator.

 

The Senate honored Rep. Guffey’s late son by adopting an amendment naming the bill Gavin’s Law. The bill was then given second reading by a 43-0 vote and automatic third reading Friday, and will be returned to the House for concurrence before being ratified and sent to the Governor for signature.

🏫 Integrity & Transparency in Education - One Step Closer to Becoming Law

This bill which was passed by the House in February was debated on the Senate floor this week and passed along with a few amendments that encourage parental involvement. H.3728 intends to keep bias out of the classroom and schools should foster a positive learning environment where students can have a great educational experience, free from discrimination. The bill will now come back to the House so we can vote on the revised bill. 

 

The House will meet next week to finish working on the State budget and bond reform which were sent to conference committees in order to work out the differences between the House version and the Senate version of the budget. We will also be taking up S.474 - the Fetal Heartbeat bill with amendments from the House committee. Here is some more information on these bills: 

 

💵 Budget - Fiscal Conservatism for Economic Prosperity:

One of the most important responsibilities of the legislature is passing a balanced state budget. This week the House and Senate made their last rounds of changes to the 2023-2024 state budget, and it will now head to a conference committee to be finalized. I am glad we focused on lowering tax burdens for working families, budgeting for people and not programs, increasing our savings and reserves, investing in our infrastructure and economy, and taking care of the hard working individuals who serve the people of South Carolina. This budget positions our great state for continued economic growth and will ensure our people have opportunities to prosper. In the future, as a strong fiscal conservative with 38 years of budgeting and financial planning experience, I intend to become much more active early on in the crafting of our state's budget. This will involve being present at many of the Ways & Means subcommittee meetings, which often conflict with my own subcommittee and committee meetings that I am required to attend. I have a plan in mind to get this done so that future budgets will focus even more closely on core government functions and lowering taxes for all our citizens and businesses.

 

🤰 Urgent Need to Limit Abortion:

With the state Senate's recent rejection of legislation that would have brought SC a near-total abortion ban with limited exceptions, another attempt has been initiated to pass pro-life legislation. House and Senate leadership, seeking a path forward, held a House panel hearing on Tuesday to consider S.474, the Senate's revised version of the 'Fetal Heartbeat bill 2.0'. This bill, which the Senate passed earlier in this session, generally limits abortions after six weeks with exceptions.

 

The issue of abortion in South Carolina has become increasingly urgent in recent months due to the actions of neighboring states. With North Carolina recently approving a ban on nearly all abortions after just 12 weeks of pregnancy, down from their current 20 weeks, SC could soon become the only state in the Southeast where abortions are still widely available. This, coupled with the fact that women from neighboring states are already coming to South Carolina to end their pregnancies, highlights the importance of addressing the issue of abortion in SC. With nearly half of the almost 3,000 women provided abortions in SC during the first three months of this year coming from out of state, the need for clarity and resolution on this issue is paramount.

 

Although the session officially wrapped up on Thursday, the Governor has the ability to call legislators back to Columbia for a special session, and we received orders late Thursday evening to return next week to finish our work on this important issue.

 

🚔 Stopping the Revolving Door for Repeat Criminals:

H.3532, the Bond Reform bill, will help make South Carolina a safer place for us all to raise our families by stopping the revolving door for repeat criminals. This bill creates sentence and bond enhancements for a person convicted of a violent crime while out on bond for a previous violent crime. The Senate non-concurred with House amendments to the bill, and the House insisted on those amendments, putting the bill in conference committee where legislators will work together to come to a compromise and get the bill sent to the Governor. 

 

🛑 Protecting Our State from Fentanyl:

H.3503, the Trafficking in Fentanyl bill, declares fentanyl a Schedule 1 drug and increases the penalties on dealers who sell it. This bi-partisan bill provides a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and sends a strong message to drug dealers and those trafficking fentanyl that South Carolina will no longer tolerate their dangerous activity in our state. The Senate gave the bill a second reading, as amended, and the bill is pending third reading on the Senate calendar. I am hopeful this bill will get pushed through in special session and signed by the Governor this month.

Many citizens of our District have taken advantage of the opportunity to purchase a South Carolina and/or American flag flown over the SC State Capitol. When they do so, I deliver them in person and always ask permission to take a picture if they are comfortable with it. Last week, I delivered a USA flag to the Oronce family of Park West. They had the whole family present both to meet me and to take pictures. When they saw that I also had the SC flag with me, they decided to add that to their collection as well. Mr. and Mrs. Oronce, both nurses at MUSC told me how much it meant to them when they moved here from the Philippines a number of years ago on a work visa, and eventually completed a six-year process of becoming legalized citizens. They emphasized "legal" immigrants in their discussion several times. In light of the continued illegal activity, especially at our southern border, I want to thank the Oronces and so many other residents of our community and the State of South Carolina who understand the importance of the Rule of Law and chose to come to our country the right way. Mrs. Oronce's statement when we got ready to take the picture with Old Glory was priceless. She said, "We have so much respect for this flag. It represents freedom to us." 

I hope all of you have an enjoyable and relaxing Mother's Day. Whether your Mom is here with you to celebrate or in Heaven, we all can take a little time to reflect on the profound impact that the mothers in our lives have on us, our community, and our world. My mother was an incredibly inspiring role model for me, and even though I lost her at the age of thirteen, throughout my life she has continued to be a constant voice of love of God and family, compassion, 

common sense, and yes, even conservatism to guide my steps.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Warmest Regards,

Kathy