As highlighted in my last newsletter, this week I submitted the bill to require that all critical infrastructure throughout the State of South Carolina, and all providers of electricity harden their assets from the potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse event. After numerous meetings and discussions last year and just recently with both the generals mentioned in last week's newsletter as well as this week with the Military Caucus, it became crystal clear that the time for action is extremely overdue. H.4954 was read across the desk on Thursday and referred to the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, commonly known as "LCI." In addition to the above, the bill also requires that providers of electricity offer a payment plan to residents who want to harden their homes and vehicles but may not be able to afford the technology in a lump sum. This practice is already in effect through Berkeley Electric Co-Op regarding power surge protectors, and is simply added to the monthly electric bill. Finally, the bill requires that the General Assembly provide funding to assist all critical infrastructure entities in protecting their assets from the effects of an electromagnetic pulse. You can read the bill here.

These bills were originally intended to be introduced as one bill, but the SC Constitution requires that a bill can only address one subject. They are all related to protecting and helping families with children or individual adults who have autism, but they address different aspects of the challenges faced. The first of these bills provides for the creation of a license tag with the "Just Bee" symbol on it. When a police officer encounters a vehicle with this icon, he or she will know to turn off the flashing lights and siren. By running a check on the plate number, the officer will be able to find out more details, and approach the vehicle better prepared. Sensory overload is one of the main problems for many autistic persons. There is a bill for including autism training in the police academy, first responders and EMS. There is one for including autism in the categories for handicapped plates. And there is one for entrance into state parks either for free or greatly discounted for autistic persons. Thank you to Layla Luna and her son Rio for introducing me to the needs of autistic families. Thank you also to Councilman Carl Ritchie, who introduced me to Layla and organized our first meeting. Special thanks to Rep. Mark Smith who also met with Layla and provided guidance as we drafted the bills. You can click here to see a short interview I did this past week with Fox 24 Charleston to help raise awareness and advocacy for this effort. Here are the links to the bills: H.4956, H.4950, H.4955, and H.4951.

As we continued our work in the State House this week, we focused on a matter of utmost importance to all of us: the safety and well-being of our children in the digital age. I'm happy to share with you some key legislative developments that have taken place, which we believe are crucial steps towards safeguarding our children online. The first of these is a groundbreaking bill that sets stringent guidelines for website and online application operators, designed to ensure that minors are not exposed to inappropriate content on the internet. H.3424, known as the "Child Online Safety Act," passed the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. I am fully committed to supporting it on the House floor in the coming weeks.

Another important bill, H.4700, the "Social Media Regulation Act," aims to require parental consent for minors to create social media accounts and places restrictions on access during certain hours. This proactive approach gives parents more control and oversight over their children's online interactions. This bill also passed the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. It will soon be debated and voted on the floor, where I intend to give it my full support.

 

On Wednesday I had the honor of attending the Governor's State of the State address, where he highlighted our state's progress and future direction. Governor McMaster commended South Carolina's economic growth, focusing on advanced manufacturing and tourism, and outlined a significant plan to modernize our healthcare system by consolidating key agencies. The Governor also emphasized the importance of education and infrastructure, addressing our commitment to public safety and mental health. I am inspired by this vision for our state and look forward to working towards these goals for the betterment of our community.

On a separate but related note, I was very proud to see Governor McMaster join forces with 24 other conservative states to pledge support for Texas Governor Abbott's effort to secure the Texas border. With all the terrible issues that have arisen under the current Federal Administration, none is as terrifying as the risk to our nation caused by their completely unacceptable open border policy. The so-called "Sanctuary Cities" that are being overrun by illegal migrants have no right to complain, because they asked for this debacle without any thought as to what it would mean for the rest of us who do not believe this policy makes any sense. Unfortunately, between the southern border and many of these sanctuary cities lie many states that do not have such places but are still forced to deal with the consequences. 

On Thursday I voted in favor of H.3523, which establishes a "Fallen First Responder Survivor Advocate" in South Carolina to assist families of deceased first responders in accessing benefits and support. This includes guiding them through obtaining mental health, insurance, educational, and financial benefits, funded by an increase in the state budget.The bill reflects a strong commitment to honoring and supporting those who have served our country, ensuring their families are cared for and guided through challenging times following the loss of a loved one in the line of duty.

There are two bills being introduced that are of interest. The first is an innovative healthcare reform, mentioned by the Governor in his address, that aims to consolidate six key health agencies into the Executive Office of Health and Policy. This reform is geared towards streamlining our system for improved accessibility and effectiveness. I expect this bill to be filed soon and will keep you updated on its progress. 

Another piece of legislation I am keeping an eye on is H.4710, which is currently in the Ways and Means Committee. This bill aims to index our state’s unemployment benefits, which would be a win for our state’s people, businesses, and economy! The proposal will help encourage a robust and active workforce, protect the state from insolvency, and promote reemployment. I expect swift movement on this bill in the coming weeks as it is a top priority of the House Republican Caucus.

The SC Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act, H.4159, is making significant strides in the Senate. This crucial bill, originally introduced by Rep. Herbkersman in the House, aims to modernize telehealth practices, ensuring high standards of care and expanding access through technology. We are closely monitoring its progress as it promises to greatly enhance healthcare accessibility in South Carolina.

Early in the week, Rep. Joe Bustos and I met with the Executive Director of the National Medal of Honor Leadership and Education Center, which is still scheduled to be built here in Mount Pleasant at Patriots Point. Many people have asked me whether we are ever going to build the "land-side" museum, and the answer is yes, but it has evolved into a joint venture of enhancing the Medal of Honor Museum onboard the USS Yorktown combined with a center focused on telling the stories of the heroes who are, or were the recipients of the Medal of Honor in order to inspire generations of people to embrace the values of courage, integrity, commitment, sacrifice, citizenship and patriotism. The Foundation has raised a considerable amount of money, but in order to break ground, it must reach a goal of 70% of the total needed to build the facility. If you would like to donate to this cause, you can do so here. It is also possible to donate highly appreciated shares of stock in order to support the NMOHLEC and avoid paying capital gains. If you are interested, please email me back for more details. For more information, click here to visit their website.

Thank you as always for your interest, support and input. Please share this email with friends and fellow South Carolinians who might benefit from the information provided. Anyone can sign up to receive this email newsletter directly at my website by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom to submit their email address.

Have a fantastic week ahead!

Warmest Regards,

Kathy

Representative Kathy Landing

South Carolina State House District 80