Week 6 Update
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Greetings Neighbors and Friends,
As we approach a brief pause in our legislative session, with the House on furlough until Tuesday, February 27th, I want to share some significant accomplishments from the past week and look ahead to our priorities upon reconvening. This furlough period will give the Ways and Means Committee the necessary time to diligently work through the House version of the State budget in full committee, ensuring our fiscal decisions are both thoughtful and strategic.
H. 4957 - Empowering Student-Athletes - A Milestone Achieved
On Wednesday, we voted on and ultimately passed H.4957, a landmark bill designed to empower college athletes in South Carolina with the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This move, strongly supported by coaches from our state's top universities, promotes fair and equitable opportunities for student-athletes, ensuring our state aligns with national standards in collegiate sports. Not only will it allow the coaches to help their team members navigate the complexities of offers to them, but it will be done without the coaches or school charging them any cost for this guidance. For some students, this could mean the difference between being able to stay in college longer and earning their degree while playing sports.
H. 3690 - ESG Pension Protection Act - Safeguarding Our Future
Last year, the House passed H.3690, the ESG Pension Protection Act, which was signed into law by the Governor this week. This critical legislation ensures the $39 billion in South Carolina's pension system is invested to maximize returns for over 600,000 state and local government employees, free from the influence of Environmental-Social-Governance (ESG) objectives. We stand firm against allowing investment firms to leverage pension funds to push social agendas, thus protecting our state's investment practices and securing pensions for our dedicated employees.
H. 4927 - Advancing Healthcare through the Executive Office of Health Policy
On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee passed H.4927. This bill proposes the creation of the Executive Office of Health and Policy by merging the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH). Following a comprehensive study by the Boston Consulting Group, the bill aims to address our healthcare system's fragmentation, enhancing care quality and accessibility, especially for our most vulnerable populations.
H. 3594 - Second Amendment Rights - Staying True to Our Principles of Constitutional Carry
In response to recent Senate amendments, the House Republican Caucus remains unified in our commitment to the Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act, H.3594. On Tuesday, we sent a clean version of the bill back to the Senate, underscoring our dedication to safeguarding the Second Amendment rights of South Carolinians. It has now been sent to a Conference Committee by the Senate, with the anticipation that they may be able to work out the details and get this passed.
Looking ahead:
H. 5118 - The SC 10-Year Energy Transformation Act:
This bill was introduced on Thursday and provides a huge opportunity for South Carolina to increase energy production as well as enhance the cybersecurity and protection of our energy sources. I did sign on as a co-sponsor because of how important this bill is to the future of our state; however, please know that sometimes when we sign on to a bill, it is partially for the chance to be notified of when the bill will be heard in committee and be able to offer amendments through a committee member if needed. I will be reviewing this 65-page bill carefully over furlough. If you would like to read it as well, you can access it here. The bill will receive a tremendous amount of scrutiny, not only by myself and other House Members who are especially concerned about this topic but also by stakeholders related to energy production such as all the electric utility companies. I have been assured that after this bill is voted on in committee, H.4954 Electromagnetic Protection Act will be next. The two are closely aligned in that while we must find sources for greatly increasing energy production in South Carolina, we also must be sure that steps are taken to protect the sources we have and mitigate the risks to future energy production as well. I have worked hard to raise awareness and gain support in the House for the latter, and we are up to 50 members as co-sponsors, plus myself.
Around the District and the Lowcountry:
Saturday morning, in honor of Black History Month, Charleston County Republican Party held a wonderful prayer breakfast at Centerpoint Church in North Charleston. It was very informative, with great quotable statements regarding the history of African Americans in the United States. Among several that stood out was a quote from Morgan Freeman that Black History Month should not be limited to one month. "Black History is American History; they're completely intertwined." I especially enjoyed meeting Pastor David Johnson and his lovely wife, Rachel. Pastor Johnson leads the flock at Centerpoint, and Rachel teaches the Childhood Development Program there as a very enthusiastic preschool. It was great to see Duke Buckner (for Congress) there, as well as Latrecia Pond For South Carolina House District 15, and Palmetto Promise Institute President Wendy Damron with Gene D'Agostino. Thanks to the Johnsons and CCRP for a memorable morning with great lessons to carry throughout the year!
Your support and engagement are crucial as we navigate these legislative efforts. Together, we are making strides towards a stronger, more prosperous South Carolina. Please continue to share this newsletter with people you know. They can sign up on my website here at the bottom of the page to receive the updates directly. Because of the furlough this coming week, I will not be sending out an email next Sunday.
Happy President's Day on Monday, and have a wonderful week ahead!
Warmest Regards,
Kathy
Representative Kathy Landing
South Carolina State House District 80