Wednesday, March 8th was International Women's Day. The House unanimously passed H.3868, a bill declaring the second Saturday in November of each year as “Women in Hunting and Fishing Awareness Day.”

We have all heard complaints about why it takes so long to improve our roads and highways. This past week, we did something to help make road construction more efficient. The House unanimously passed S.361, a bill to remove the requirement for preapproval of construction contract extensions by the DOT Commission. Instead, it would require that the Commission ratify any extensions to construction contracts at their next scheduled meeting. This will help streamline the DOT contract process on important infrastructure projects around our state. 

H.3014, the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act, creates an opportunity for criminal courts to impose additional penalties on criminals convicted of a felony who target their victims based on their race, religion or other listed factors. Wednesday, March 8th, the House voted to pass this bill, and after a third reading Thursday it was sent to the Senate. Contrary to what I have seen out on social media and even some emails, this bill does not condone nor usher in "thought police." The only way a person could be charged with a hate crime under this bill would be if they committed a violent crime, was convicted, and it was clearly proven that they had targeted their victim(s) due to prior actions such as writing a related "manifesto," posting hateful commentary out on social media, or other obvious actions. The entire Charleston community, including Mount Pleasant has demonstrated the ability to come together to stand up against hateful bigotry in the aftermath of the massacre at Mother Emanuel Church, and I am proud to say that we believe acting out one's vilest instincts is simply not tolerated. 

On Friday, March 3rd, Governor McMaster announced a new partnership with Volkswagen, the largest automobile producer in the world. Scout Motors, a US EV manufacturer backed by Volkswagen Group, will be establishing their first manufacturing plant in Blythewood, South Carolina. At the Midlands industrial park site, the company will build all-electric, next-generation trucks and rugged SUVs harkening back to the iconic Scout vehicles produced from 1960 to 1980. The company’s $2 billion investment has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs. At full capacity, more than 200,000 Scout vehicles may be produced annually at the facility. Read the full press release here. This past Thursday, the House voted to invest $1.3B in this project, to include providing the site preparation, roads, water & sewer and other major infrastructure needed for this major new facility, and also including a $200M loan to be repaid by Volkswagen. Many are saying this new facility has the potential to do for South Carolina's economy what BMW and Boeing have accomplished so far. Here's a video for more about Scout Motors and their plans for South Carolina.

The House Ways & Means Committee wrapped up weeks of hearings and approved the preliminary 2023-24 state budget. This initial budget proposal (nearly $14 billion) is a starting point and, while large, is fiscally conservative and focuses on our key functions of government. The Full House will debate it next week before sending it to the Senate. I am committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and in a way that directly benefits South Carolinians.

Public Education K-12: Collaborative efforts with Gov McMaster and Superintendent Weaver for a transformative investment in public education 

• $590 million of additional money goes to K-12 public schools
• $2,500 minimum salary increase for teachers at all levels
• $42,500 will be the salary for beginning teachers (33% increase over the past five years)
• $27 million more for school resource officers to keep students safe
• $17 million to attract school bus drivers to fill vacancies
• $260 million to state aid to classrooms
• Teacher supply checks to $350 per teacher
• Online financial dashboard that will provide greater transparency in educational spending at district and school levels
• $20 million towards school safety upgrades in schools of need
• $16.7 million to cover increased expenses for full-day 4k 
• $15 million for tutoring programs to help close the learning gaps through more intensive and personalized support
• $12.5 million expansion in computer science and career & technology education to prepare the next generation for the modern workforce

• $69 million in tuition mitigation to freeze tuition prices (25% increase over this year)
• Prevents an increased burden on SC taxpayers 
• investing in our State’s people, not programs
• Fully funding LIFE, HOPE, Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, and lottery tuition assistance for the 8th year in a row 
• $176 million to fund maintenance and renovations at the comprehensive colleges
• $130 million to fund maintenance and renovations at the technical colleges
• $100 million for SC WINS scholarships for technical colleges for critical workforce needs
• $15 million for tuition mitigation for Technical Colleges 
• doubling our investment 
• Increase funding for Needs Based Grants to $80 million 
• $4.1 million for College Transition Program Scholarships for students with disabilities
• $500,000 to create Autism Academic Program Enhancement at Francis Marion University
• $5 million for the SC First Scholarship at MUSC
• $2 million for Ready SC to recruit and train workers at new companies and expansions of companies in the State
• Focus on “Degree to Career” Pathways
• $100 million to SC Wins Scholarship Program 
• funding for sc technical colleges for enrollment in workforce programs: manufacturing, health care, computer science/tech, transportation distribution and logistics
• $3.5 million to tech schools for the SC Youth & Small Business Grant

• $332 million additional investments in state employees
• $2,500 salary increase for all state employees (6% pay raise for a person making $40,000/year)
• $120 million to cover increased costs of health insurance
• Law and Order: Recruitment and Retention, Safety and Security, and Land Conservation
• $28 million for recruitment and retention of Class 1 Law Enforcement Officers
• $50,000 new base salary (15% increase from last year)
• $20 million for recruitment and retention of Juvenile Corrections Officers
• $40,500 (6.5% increase from last year)
• $16 million investment into Solicitors & Public Defenders
• $50 million for maintenance and safety upgrades at DJJ
• $14 million for SRO positions
• hiring an additional 188 SRO 
• $3.2 million for Center for School Safety & Targeted Violence: hands-on training for SRO 
• $50 million for safety upgrades at Dept. of Corrections & Dept. of Juvenile Justice
• $20 million to DNR for land conservation and acquisition 
• $18 million for Conservation Bank for Conservation Grants 
• Economic Development:
• $200 million for strategic economic development infrastructure
• $20 million for Office of Resilience
• $25 for Parks, Recreation, and Tourism: will benefit rural SC
• $20 million for agriculture

• 63% of bridges need repair or replacement 
• $200 million for bridge maintenance, repair, or replacement 
• $250 million to support local and secondary road projects
• $8 million for off-interstate litter pick up 
• $4.4 million to implement the Statewide Education and Workforce Development Plan 
• $3 million to Volunteer Strategic Assistance & Fire Equipment program (volunteer firefighters) 
• $35 million DMV IT infrastructure upgrades
• $50 million for Capital Investing grant program for the Statewide Airport System

• Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services will be partnering with Clemson, USC, MUSC, DHEC to establish the SC Center of Excellence in Addiction
• $18 million to increase compensation for nursing and mental health professionals

• $1 BILLION to the general & capital rainy day funds
• $2,500 salary increase for all state employees who make less than $83,000
• $121 million for state employee healthca re coverage
• $725,000 to Department of Administration to enhance state’s e-recruitment and onboarding 
• $3.9 million to judges and corresponding staff to reduce size of docket backlogs 
• $3.3 million to revitalize our Military Readiness Center 
• $5 million to the Military Enhancement Fund 
• $255,000 to the Burial Honor Guard Support Fund 
• $40 million to SC Enterprise Information System to upgrade IT including security threat defense
• $13 million Local Government Fund 

Did you know that you can purchase a South Carolina or American Flag that has flown over our beautiful State Capitol Building? Each comes with a Certificate of Authenticity with whomever's name you wish. They make great gifts, or you can use them at your own home. SC flags are $25, and American flags are $26. If you would like to purchase one, please email me with the name you want to have on the certificate, and I will deliver it to you. We can only take checks for these items, which should be made payable to "SC State House." I purchased one for my husband, Joe just recently.