Final Week Update

Sunday, May 19, 2024

As the gavel fell at 5 PM a week ago Thursday, the House adjourned ‘Sine Die’—Latin for "without a day " — marking the end of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session without a set date to reconvene. The final week was a whirlwind of legislative activity, with my colleagues and I working tirelessly to ensure our commitments to the citizens of South Carolina were fulfilled. While we were able to accomplish key victories in this second year of Session, we ran out of time for some of the critical bills that many of you wanted to see passed and that I sponsored or co-sponsored. Many other bills that were passed by the House but had amendments added by the Senate that were problematic ended up being sent to Conference Committees to hopefully be resolved.

Protecting Our Children:
I am proud to have supported H.4624, the "Help Not Harm" bill, which has now successfully passed both chambers. This crucial legislation protects our children from irreversible gender transition procedures and hormone blockers, affirming our commitment to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being of South Carolina's youth from premature medical decisions.

Enhancing Online Safety for Minors:
We have taken a significant step towards safeguarding our children online with the passage of H.3424, the Child Online Safety Act. This pivotal legislation, which now awaits Governor Henry McMaster's signature, mandates age verification on websites displaying pornographic content to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material. I am proud to uphold our commitment to enhancing the digital well-being of our youth.

Budgetary Prudence and Strategic Investments:
Our discussions on H.5100, the FY 24-25 state budget, were intense and productive. There are still a number of differences between the House and Senate versions to be ironed out in conference committee. I will continue to share updates as more work is completed on the budget in the coming weeks.

Judicial Reform and Accountability:
In the last Session week S.1046, the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, reached a critical phase as it moves into a conference committee where both chambers will work through their differences. This reform seeks to enhance the transparency and accountability of our judicial selection process, responding directly to the overwhelming 91% of Republicans in our Presidential Primary who demanded these changes. While no single piece of legislation can completely address the complexities of judicial reform, this bill represents a significant step toward refining how we elect judges in South Carolina. I am committed to collaborating with my colleagues in both chambers to ensure we achieve a robust and fair solution that upholds our values of justice and integrity.

Enhancing Public Safety and Substance Control:
I strongly supported the passage of H.4617, which effectively addresses public safety concerns by adding xylazine to the list of Schedule III controlled substances, with strict regulations to prevent abuse while allowing legitimate medical uses. This bill has now been enrolled for ratification, underscoring our commitment to combating emerging drug threats. Regarding S.1, Drug Induced Homicide, we did not make any progress in the final week. I am very disappointed about this, and know that a number of my constituents whose lives have been devastated by the poisoning of loved ones by fentanyl laced in other substances, are understandably upset and frustrated. I have pledged directly to at least one person that in the upcoming Session, I will research and prefile a bill that seeks to avoid some of the legal pitfalls that derailed this bill from being granted the opportunity for a vote in the House.

Energy Independence and Sustainability:
In the last week of Session, we continued to champion H.5118, the Ten-Year Energy Transformation Act, a pivotal legislation aimed at ensuring South Carolina's long-term energy independence. Although the Senate returned the bill with amendments, we remained committed to our comprehensive approach. I was proud to support maintaining a balance between fostering economic growth and upholding our commitment to environmental stewardship. The bill has now moved to a conference committee, where we will work diligently to reconcile differences and finalize a plan that truly reflects our vision for a sustainable energy future in South Carolina.

Commitment to Our Protectors:
I was honored to support the passage of S.969, which significantly increases the daily subsistence allowance for our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel from $8 to $16. This legislation also raises the maximum tax deduction for volunteers from $3,000 to $6,000 annually, acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who ensure our safety. These changes underscore our deep appreciation and firm commitment to supporting the brave individuals who protect our communities.

Around the District and Mount Pleasant:
This week marked the grand reopening of the beautifully remodeled and upgraded Medal of Honor Museum aboard the USS Yorktown. My husband Joe and I attended the dinner the night before the unveiling where we heard from members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society as well as representatives of the National Medal of Honor Leadership and Education Center. The Center's Foundation was the source of the $3.5 Million gift that made the major remodeling possible. There were nine recipients of the Medal of Honor present for this very special event, and we were fortunate to sit with Col Harvey "Barney" Barnum, USMC (Retired) and his wife, Martha. Mount Pleasant's own recipient, Maj. Gen. Jim Livingston, USMC (Retired) and his lovely wife Sarah were also in attendance. The next day, there were a number of inspirational presentations in the morning, followed by lunch and then the unveiling ceremony. My son Joseph and I were fortunate to be able to tour the museum with State Department of Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver, and we were all very impressed at what an incredible transformation had taken place. I highly recommend going to see this fantastic, immersive experience highlighting and honoring our greatest military heroes!

Earlier in the year, we were delighted to welcome and honor in the SC House Chambers the Oceanside Collegiate Academy Football Team for their outstanding season culminating in winning the State AA Championship! Unfortunately, just a few days later our official photographer had to go out suddenly on medical leave for an unexpected surgery. I am so happy to report that Sam rejoined us recently after having a very successful result, and is on his way to full recovery. Meanwhile, he sent me these great pics last week. Congratulations to Coach Chad Wilkes and all the team members of the Landsharks Football Team for a fantastic year!!

 Speaking of State Champions, we were hoping to bring the AAAAA Wando High School Band as well as their Boy's Lacrosse Team up to be recognized, but between AP and other end-of-year exams, they were not able to schedule this before our last week of Session. We will be presenting a House Resolution honoring the State Champion Wando HS Band at their banquet in early June, and have made plans to honor the Lacrosse Team in January. Congratulations are also in order for the AAAA State Champion Lucy Beckham Boys' Lacrosse Team, whom we were able to bring up to the State House last year right before Session ended. With another year of maintaining their title, we will look to bring them up to Columbia next January as well.

Thank you to FOX 24 and their host, Leyla Gulen for highlighting in an interview this week the full passage last week of H.4956, which authorizes a specialized license plate for Autistic and Neurodivergent persons to protect them during interactions with law enforcement, other first responders, and even tow truck drivers when a vehicle is either pulled over or stranded on the side of the road. This bill had a very circuit ous route to passage, eventually having to be an amendment to an amendment to another license tag bill, H.4764. Although it took a lot of close watching and determination to keep this going through the House and Senate, I am so grateful we got it done! My heartfelt appreciation goes out to Layla Luna, mother of Rio, her 15-year-old son who is non-verbal, yet has incredible skills as evidenced by his writing that she shared with me. You are a true inspiration to so many people and a tremendous demonstration of the power of a mother's love. If it weren't for you, I would never have known about Rio and the idea for a bill that could help so many families and individuals facing risks every day from encounters that should never be dangerous. Thank you so much to Councilman (Chief) Carl Ritchie, whose keen knowledge of the role of law enforcement combined with great compassion for families with special needs members brought Layla and I together. We can solve so many problems in our community and state when we take the time to listen, learn, and then act on it to make a difference!

Another special event called, "Our Community Salutes" was held on Thursday evening, also on the USS Yorktown, to honor and swear in this year's enlistees for the various branches of the military. The enlistees are Class of 2024 high school graduates who have decided to enter the military instead of going immediately for advanced education or into a civilian job. Mary Regner, wife of Maj. General Mike Regner, USMC (Retired) was the organizer of this ceremony, and we heard from a number of highly decorated high ranking military including Command Sargent Major Michele Jones, USA (Retired), as well as Major Genereal Johnny Davis, US Army Recruiting Command. Their remarks were motivating for the young people in the audience, as well as the rest of us. Rob Fowler was the Master of Ceremonies, and did a great job as always. The Parris Island Marine Band provided music for the evening. It was an honor to be in attendance with all the enlistees and their families as these young people embark on a life of serving their country.

Reflecting on the significant accomplishments over the past 18 weeks fills me with optimism for our state’s future. As this session concludes, my commitment to advancing the prosperity, safety, and well-being of all South Carolinians remains steadfast. Thank you for your continued trust and support, and I look forward to resuming our work together in the next session. Over the summer and fall, I will continue to send out updates once a month regarding anything of interest from Columbia as well as in our District and the Lowcountry. 

Please remember to go out and vote in the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 11th! There are so many false and negative advertisements running right now. I highly recommend you do as much homework as possible, especially with the Charleston County Sheriff's race and the First District Congressional race. It is so important that we get both of these right and vote for strong, effective, conservative leadership. Although I do not have a Primary opponent, please remember to vote for me so I have a strong showing going up against my Democrat opponent in November.