H. 4000, passed the House and was forwarded to the Senate. If enacted, convention complexes, centers for the performing arts, and municipal amphitheaters capable of hosting 400 or more attendees would be added to the list under existing law of places where alcoholic liquors, i.e. beer, ale, porter, wine, and distilled spirits, could be served to patrons. In addition, alcoholic beverage service at collegiate sporting venues would be preconditioned upon servers first completing mandatory alcohol server training; conducting random checks of specific alcohol serving locations; using forensic digital identification systems to determine the authenticity of IDs being presented for alcohol purchases; not selling alcoholic beverages in designated student sections of these venues; and not selling any of these beverages to anyone presenting vertical identification cards. Judiciary, May 6, 2025.

H. 4300 Judicial Retirement System Vesting and Mandatory Retirement Age at 74

H. 4300, passed the House and is Senate-bound. This proposal would vest judges in the state judicial retirement system after serving for eight years. In addition, it would raise the retirement age for judges from 72 to 74 years of age. Finance, May 6, 2025.

H. 3929 Department of Corrections Canteens

One final bill passing the House and on its way to the Senate Chamber, is H. 3929, proposed legislation to allow the South Carolina Department of Corrections to set up canteens at all of its facilities. The SC Department of Corrections could maintain these canteens, as defined in each location’s ‘statement of operations’ at all prison facilities, or other correctional institutions under its jurisdiction. In addition to preparing these statements of operations, these canteens would be subject to biennial audits. Committee on Corrections and Penology, May 6, 2025.

H. 3089 Personal Injury Insurance Claims

The House sent to the Senate H. 3089, a bill that would require hospitals, healthcare facilities, and other medical providers who have provided treatment or another service to an insured patient for a personal injury must initiate a claim with the patient's health insurer within 30 days of the treatment or service. The bill also outlines that failure to comply constitutes a forfeiture of the provider's right to reimbursement. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a provider from seeking reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid as permissible by law. Committee on Medical Affairs, May 1, 2025.

H. 3967 Biomass and Bioenergy

The House sent to the Senate H. 3967, a bill that provides new opportunities for the forestry industry to utilize leftover materials from wood product manufacturing as sources for biomass or bioenergy. Bioenergy produced from agricultural harvesting is recognized as renewable and carbon neutral. When this bioenergy is combined with carbon capture and storage technology, it is considered carbon negative. Forest products manufacturing residuals may include, but are not limited to, pulping liquors, pulping byproducts, woody manufacturing residuals, and paper recycling residuals. Committee on Medical Affairs, May 1, 2025.

H. 3950 Soil Classifiers

The House sent to the Senate H. 3950. This would address the need for soil classifiers who help in the septic tank permitting process. As a result, the bill authorizes licensed professional engineers, who have been certified by the Department of Environmental Services for successfully completing its onsite wastewater training program, to perform soil evaluations specifically for onsite wastewater systems. These engineers must also meet all bonding and insurance requirements. Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry, May 1, 2025.

H. 3214 Public School Based Canneries

The House sent to the Senate H. 3214, a bill requiring the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Food Systems and Safety Program of the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service (Clemson Extension Service), to develop a three-year pilot program establishing public school-based community canneries. This program will provide community training for food preservation using canning from 2026-2029 in three public schools. The bill would allow the general public to bring locally grown produce to be canned for their personal use. The purpose of this program is to enable families to safely preserve, and store food grown by them for personal consumption through research-based information, procedures, and instruction concerning canning food. A performance report must be prepared on each cannery before January 1, 2029, with recommendations regarding whether the program should be continued through permanent legislation. Committee on Education, May 1, 2025.

H. 3223 Veterinarian Telehealth Services

The House sent to the Senate H. 3223, a bill establishing parameters for veterinarians to use telehealth services. In order to receive telehealth services from a licensed veterinarian, there must first be an established in-person client-patient relationship with the physical examination of the animal or timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept. “Telemedicine" means the remote practice of veterinary medicine through the use of telecommunications technology allowing a licensed veterinarian with an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship to evaluate and treat an animal virtually. This bill also allows for prescriptions to be written by way of telehealth. Medical Affairs, May 1, 2025.

H. 4257 Uniform System of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement

H. 4257, sent to the Senate, is a bill relating to the requirement that the state Board of Education shall establish a uniform system of compulsory school attendance enforcement. The bill would provide that this system must require school administrators to approve student absences for participation in interscholastic activities authorized by the school or school district regardless of whether the activity is sanctioned by the South Carolina High School League or other interscholastic sanctioning organization. In addition, the bill relates to rules and regulations that the state Board of Education shall establish to define lawful and unlawful absences under compulsory attendance statutes. Committee on Education, May 1, 2025.

H. 3758 Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act

H. 3758 , read a third time and sent to the Senate, the “Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act,” would provide that school districts shall adopt and implement certain policies concerning limited public forums and voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints before the 2026-2027 school year, and to provide a model policy that schools may adopt and implement to ensure compliance with these policy requirements. The policy must ensure the district does not discriminate against a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint. Referred to Committee on Education May 1, 2025.

H. 4249 Emergency Scene Management

H. 4249 is a bill that relates to emergency scene management. The bill was read a third time and sent to the Senate. The bill would direct that drivers shall ensure their vehicles are kept under control when approaching or passing other motor vehicles stopped on or near the right of way of streets or highways. It would also provide that persons driving vehicles approaching other stationary vehicles displaying flashing hazard lights shall reduce their speed, yield the right of way, and maintain safe speeds when changing lanes is unsafe. Committee on Transportation, April 30, 2025.

H. 3949 Official Choral Anthem

H. 3949 was read a third time and sent to the Senate. The bill would designate "Dum spiro spero" translated as "While I Breathe, I Hope" as the official choral anthem of South Carolina. Committee on Family and Veterans' Services, May 1, 2025.

H. 4305 Wellness Reimbursement Programs

The House sent the Senate H. 4305. This bill establishes provisions governing the operation of wellness reimbursement programs, a type of employee benefits program available that employers may offer under federal provisions to provides their employees with financial incentives to engage in healthy behaviors by reimbursing them for eligible health and wellness expenses, such as gym memberships, fitness classes, wellness coaching, and wearable fitness trackers. The legislation provides guardrails in state law for the operation of wellness reimbursement programs that establish consumer protection provisions, provide penalties for violations, and require registration with the South Carolina Department of Insurance. Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry, May 6, 2025.

H. 4303 Taxation of Cigarettes for Heating

The House sent the Senate H. 4303, relating to the taxation of cigarettes for heating. This bill would revise tax rates on products containing tobacco, by providing for a tax upon all cigarettes for heating made of tobacco or any substitute for tobacco of fourteen and one-quarter mills on each cigarette. Committee on Finance, May 6, 2025.

H. 3514 Requirements for Flags Made in the United States

The House amended, approved H. 3514, a bill establishing requirements for flags made in the United States. The legislation provides that a state department, agency, institution, or political subdivision of the state, including a school district, may not use public funds to purchase a flag of the United States of America or the State of South Carolina unless the flag has been one hundred percent manufactured in the United States from articles, materials, or supplies that have been grown or one hundred percent produced or manufactured in the United States. Those that have already purchased foreign-made flags are allowed to exhaust their existing supplies before complying with the requirements. Committee on Finance, May 6, 2025.

H. 4137 American Heroes Bingo

The House sent the Senate H. 4137, a bill authorizing the operation of American Heroes Bingo with proceeds supporting veterans organizations. The legislation allows a veteran’s organization to obtain a new Class G bingo license at a cost of $1,000 to operate an American Heroes Bingo game offering prizes, which do not exceed $50,000 per game. The holder of a Class G license may not conduct more than six bingo sessions a week and may impose an entrance fee of five dollars. An amount of fifteen percent of the net hold for a month derived from American Heroes Bingo of each veteran’s organization must be remitted to the Veterans’ Trust Fund. A total amount of ten percent of the net hold for a month derived from American Heroes Bingo of each veteran’s organization must be split and remitted equally to the South Carolina state headquarters of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. Other chartered Veterans Service Organizations with membership in excess of four thousand also may submit a claim to the proceeds derived from American Heroes Bingo. Committee on Finance, May 6, 2025.

H. 4337 Legislative Audit Council Subpoena Authority

Legislative Audit Council subpoena authority, H. 4337, went to the Senate after passing the House. This agency, which investigates state agencies, would be given subpoena power, access to all state agency documents, and the right to attend agency meetings under this proposed legislation. It also sets out additional rights and responsibilities when it conducts its audits. Committee on Finance, May 6, 2025.

H. 3335 Housing Authority Representatives in Magistrates Court

Housing authority representatives in magistrates court, H. 3335, has gone to the Senate. In addition to corporations designating a person who may appear on their behalf in magistrates courts, housing authorities would also be able to do so, and appear pro se in magistrates court, if this measure receives the Governor’s signature. Committee on Judiciary, May 26, 2025.

H. 3858 Taxation of Watercraft

The House sent the Senate H. 3858, a bill revising the taxation of watercraft to simplify the process and lower tax bills. The legislation discontinues requirements for titling boat motors separately from boats, requiring a single title, instead, and combining the two five-dollar fees into a single ten-dollar fee. The legislation establishes a property tax exemption for 42.8571 percent of the fair market value of watercraft. This exemption does not apply to houseboats, or any watercraft classified as a primary or secondary residence. The legislation provides for the exemption to be phased in over the course of three years. Finance, May 8, 2025.

H. 4129 Winning Prizes in Sporting Contests and Games of Skill

The House sent the Senate H. 4129, relating to winning prizes in sporting contests and games of skill. This bill specifies that a person who pays a fee to participate in a game, activity, or event in which skill predominates over chance, such as a Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tournament, a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) event, a bill fishing or bass fishing tournament, an Association of Tennis Professional Tour event or Women’s Tennis Association Tour event, a turkey shoot, or any non‑card‑based predominant skill game, activity, or event, and receives a thing of value proportionate to how skillfully he plays in the game, activity, or event is not gambling. The legislation includes provisions specifying that it does not permit any physical or electronic card-based game, such as video poker. Judiciary, May 8, 2025.

H. 4343 Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Training

In an effort to equip healthcare professionals with providing support to victims, the House gave third reading and sent to the Senate H. 4343. This bill adds a continuing education requirement for healthcare professionals to complete a one-hour human trafficking awareness and prevention training course as part of their licensing process. This requirement applies to licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and physicians practicing emergency medicine, primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, or serving as hospitalists. It also includes certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and licensees working in public health clinics, emergency departments, urgent care centers, and community-based centers. All licensees must complete this training by January 1, 2028, and every six years thereafter. For individuals licensed before January 1, 2026, the course must be completed by the 2028 deadline. For those initially licensed on or after January 1, 2026, the course must be completed within two years of licensure and then every six years thereafter. Medical Affairs, May 7, 2025.

H. 4339 South Carolina Healthy Schools Act

H. 4339 would enact the "South Carolina Healthy Schools Act" to protect the health and well-being of children by prohibiting the use of harmful food additives in school meals, ensuring ingredient transparency, establishing compliance procedures and enforcement mechanisms, and providing a periodic review and possible updates of prohibited additives. Education, May 7, 2025.

H. 3645 State Employee Paid Parental Leave

The House sent the Senate H. 3645, a bill increasing state employee paid parental leave in the event of the birth or adoption of a child or the fostering of a child in state custody. Paid parental leave is increased from six weeks to twelve weeks for state employees, including South Carolina’s public school teachers, who have given birth and increased from two weeks to four weeks for those who have not given birth. The legislation includes eligible state employees, any person employed full-time by a four-year or postgraduate institution of higher education under the control of the state, or a technical college supported and under the control of the state. Finance, April 30, 2025.

H. 3049 Uniform Civil Remedies For Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act

H. 3049, a bill to make, what is typically referred to as revenge porn, distribution a basis for civil liability, has passed the House and is on its way to the Senate. This "Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act" would conform with existing federal laws to set out definitions and create civil causes of action for anyone suffering harm from any intentional, or threatened, disclosure of falsely depicted --photograph, film, video recording, or still images generated via machine learning techniques or other computer generated methods --private, intimate images created without that subject’s consent.

Exceptions to this liability could include any person reporting these depictions to law enforcement, use in any legal proceeding, or for medical education or treatment. Also, if these images are part of an effort made in good faith in the reporting or investigation of unlawful conduct or unsolicited and unwelcome conduct, are related to a matter of public concern or public interest, or are reasonably intended to assist the depicted individual, no civil liability would result under this proposal. In addition, a defendant who is a parent, legal guardian, or individual with legal custody of a child would not be liable for any disclosure or threatened disclosure of intimate images of the child. In Judiciary, May 6, 2025

H. 3802 Home School and Charter School Participation in Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities

H. 3802, read a third time and sent to the Senate, would add participation in co-curricular activities, extracurricular activities, career and technical education, and would provide equal treatment for such students and students enrolled in public schools in the district. This relates to participation in interscholastic activities of public-school districts by home school, charter school, and governor's school students – deleting the requirement that home school students must wait one full academic year prior to participating. The State Department of Education shall develop model guidelines for home school students to participate in cocurricular activities, extracurricular activities, or career and technical education in schools within or outside of their public school attendance zone. The model guidelines shall assist local boards of trustees in establishing a home school student interdistrict participation policy. The model guidelines shall serve as the minimum standard, ensuring a baseline of expectations for all districts. Each local policy shall be based on an evaluation of available data reflecting student, school, district, and community needs to ensure access and efficient resource allocation. Education, May 8, 2025.

H. 3974 Evaluate Public School Students for Health, Behavioral Health, or Therapeutic Needs

H. 3974, sent to the Senate, would authorize evaluators to evaluate public school students for health, behavioral health, or therapeutic needs, to authorize private providers to provide related services at schools during the school day. The bill was amended to provide that initial coverage entails autism diagnosis and is a medically necessary treatment and remediation. These evaluations and services only may occur at the request of the parent or guardian of the student, to provide school districts may not prohibit such evaluations or services in schools during the school day, to provide that the state Department of Education adopt a related model policy. Education, May 7, 2025.

H. 4342 Restricted Instructor’s Licenses In Dentistry

The House sent to the Senate H. 4342, a bill that was recalled from the Medical, Military, Municipal and Public Affairs Committee and placed on the desk. This bill allows the State Board of Dentistry to waive certain requirements for restricted instructor’s licenses in dentistry for applicants who hold a full-time academic faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor or higher. The purpose of this legislation is to support the state’s only School of Dentistry by easing licensing requirements for qualified instructors. This provision will allow the school to increase its capacity to educate and train new students in dentistry. Medical Affairs, May 7, 2025.

H. 4478 State Forester’s Notices of Fire Bans

The House gave third reading and sent to the Senate H. 4478, a bill that went without reference. This bill empowers the state forester to send directives dealing with not starting fires or prohibiting all open burnings to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. As a result, the Emergency Management Division must broadcast the directive(s) regarding fires on all telecommunication devices within South Carolina. Fish, Game and Forestry, May 7, 2025.

H. 3453 Free Tuition for Veterans’ Children

The House gave third reading and sent to the Senate H. 3453, a bill dealing with free tuition for veterans’ children. The bill waives residency requirements for children of retired military personnel, and honorably discharged veterans who have been a resident of South Carolina since birth. The bill also waives the one year in-state tuition residency requirement for honorably discharged military personnel and their dependents. Education, May 7, 2025.

H. 4216 State Income Tax Reform and Elimination

The House sent the Senate H. 4216, a bill allowing for state income tax reform and elimination. A tax reduction schedule is established that allows for the gradual lowering of the top marginal income tax rate and the ultimate elimination of South Carolina’s income tax. Under the legislation, the state’s current three-tiered system is collapsed into two income tax brackets, with the lower bracket of income up to $30,000 taxed at a rate of 1.99 percent and the higher bracket for income above $30,000 taxed at a rate of 5.39 percent lowered from the current 6.2 percent tax rate for the highest income level. The legislation establishes a schedule for further reducing the top marginal tax rate in years when revenue growth targets are met. In years when individual income tax revenue collections surpass a 5 percent minimum threshold, a portion of the surplus revenue is devoted to tax relief until the rate reaches 1.99 percent, achieving a flat rate. This single flat rate of 1.99 percent is then subjected to the tax relief schedule so that it is lowered in years when the revenue targets are met until the rate reaches zero, eliminating the state’s income tax altogether. Additionally, the legislation decouples South Carolina from federal income tax provisions so that state provisions would no longer mirror the exemptions and deductions found in the federal tax code. State income tax exemptions and credits are retained and can be used as the tax relief schedule is followed for phasing out state income taxes. The state’s earned income tax credit is capped at two hundred dollars. Provisions are made for a South Carolina Income Adjusted Deduction (SCIAD). Finance, May 7, 2025.

H. 3925 Oversight of State Finances

The House sent the Senate H. 3925, a bill providing for more stringent oversight of state finances. The legislation requires the State Treasurer to maintain an accounting of cash and investments in the treasury by agency and the South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS) fund and produce an annual report of the accounting for the previous fiscal year that is submitted to the Comptroller General, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The State Treasurer is charged with the duties of confirming the accuracy and completeness of the report and informing the General Assembly of any substantive concern regarding the accuracy. Provisions for the Treasurer’s annual report to the General Assembly are revised to establish more detailed reporting requirements and duties for the State Treasurer to ensure the accuracy of the financial data and inform the General Assembly of any substantive concerns. This annual report must also be made available to the State Auditor, Comptroller General, the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, and the Executive Budget Office. The legislation requires the Comptroller General to confirm each year the accuracy of cash and investments in the treasury for the previous fiscal year as reported by the State Treasurer by agency and the South Carolina Enterprise Information System fund within SCEIS or the state’s book of record. Any unreconciled differences must be made known to the State Treasurer, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The legislation revises requirements for the audit of the State’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report prepared by the Comptroller General’s Office to provide that the State Auditor may not contract with the same external auditing firm that was hired in the previous five years without prior review by the Joint Bond Review Committee. Finance, April 23, 2025.

H. 4134 Extension of High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act of 2013

The House sent the Senate H. 4134, a bill that provides a ten-year extension for the “High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act of 2013” so that these tax incentives for investing in business start-ups engaged in such activities as manufacturing, processing, warehousing, wholesaling, software development, information technology services, and research and development are set to expire at the end of 2035 rather than 2025. The legislation also redesignates the act as the “High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act of 2013-Angel Investor Tax Credit Act.” Finance, April 23, 2025.

H. 3931 Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Permit Applications

The House sent the Senate H. 3931, a bill addressing Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Permit Applications. The legislation revises timelines for the Department of Environmental Services to act on permit applications for coastal development plans. Within the timeframe, a fifteen-day window is established for DES to request any additional technical information that the department needs from an applicant. The legislation provides authority for DES to hire one or more third-party, independent engineers to assist the department in its duties. Medical Affairs, April 24, 2025.

H. 3163 Firefighters’ Occupational Diseases Under Workers’ Compensation

The House sent the Senate H. 3163, a bill addressing firefighters’ occupational diseases under Workers’ Compensation. The legislation includes stroke among occupational diseases compensable under Workers’ Compensation and conditions presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment for firefighters. The legislation provides for more detailed presumption entitlement criteria to clarify that they include conditions developed while actively engaged in fighting a fire, a technical rescue incident, or a strenuous training exercise. Clerical, administrative, or sedentary activities are specifically excluded from the presumption. Judiciary, April 23, 2025.

H. 3258 Mobile Panic Alert Systems

H. 3258 would require the acquisition and implementation of mobile panic alert systems in each public school. Education, April 23, 2025.

H. 3778 Inclement Weather Waivers Regarding Hurricane Helene

H. 3778 was sent to the Senate. This joint resolution would provide that the governing body of a school district may waive the statutory requirement that public schools make up full days missed due to inclement weather for public schools in the districts closed due to inclement weather associated with Hurricane Helene during the 2024-2025 school year, and to extend such waivers to home school programs. Education, April 23, 2025.

H. 3250 Technical College Libraries

H. 3250, sent to the Senate, would repeal requirements that technical college libraries convert to computer-based automated systems compatible with state library systems. Education, April 23, 2025.

H. 3251 Repeal of the Metric Education Committee

H. 3251, sent to the Senate, would repeal provisions relating to the metric education committee and its mandate to develop and encourage implementation of a metric education plan. Labor, Commerce and Industry, April 23, 2025.

H. 3944 Electric Battery Powered Motor Vehicles

H. 3944 , sent to the Senate, relates to the weight of vehicles and their loads and would provide maximum weights for electric battery powered motor vehicles. H. 3944 raises the maximum gross vehicle weight for motor vehicles powered by a battery from 80,000 to 82,000 pounds. Transportation, April 23, 2025.

H. 3863 South Carolina STEM Opportunity Act

H. 3863 was sent to the Senate. The bill would enact the "South Carolina STEM Opportunity Act." The bill would establish the South Carolina Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Coalition (Coalition) by merging the existing South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics & Science (SCCMS) and S2TEM Centers SC. The purpose of the coalition is to build public/private partnerships among state agencies, state funded entities, not for profits, private businesses, entities, organizations, and industries with the goal of building a technology-ready STEM workforce and ensuring South Carolina students are prepared for STEM career opportunities within South Carolina. The bill would create a STEM Education Fund. LCI, April 9, 2025.

H. 3201 Computer Science Education Initiative Act

H. 3201 was sent to the Senate. The bill would enact the "South Carolina Computer Science Education Initiative Act" to provide for the expansion and enhancement of computer science education in public high schools. The bill seeks to create and implement a periodically reviewed statewide computer science education plan and requires that each public school offers at least one computer science course that meets certain criteria (beginning in elementary school) and to provide related requirements (creating certification pathways for teachers) of the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education. The House has repeatedly sent the Senate this legislation since 2017. Education, April 10, 2025.

H. 3569 Domestic Violence Incident Survivors as Protected Tenants

Residing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, is H. 3569, a proposal whereby domestic violence incident survivors would be able to terminate their leases without penalty. They would have to show a documented qualifying incident within 60 days before making a written request to end their lease agreement obligations. Co-tenants on any lease would remain obligated to pay the rent. If protected tenants remain in the residence during the 60-day notice period, they will have to pay rent, but cannot be made responsible for any fees, penalties, or other payments in addition to the monthly rent for exercising their rights. No future landlord could use anyone’s protected tenants designation to refuse to rent to them or otherwise discriminate against them.

As amended during the House debate on this bill, landlords acting in good faith would be exempt from civil liability for exercising the procedures outlined in this proposed legislation. On the Senate calendar, May 6, 2025.

H. 3924 Hemp-Derived Ingestibles

The Senate has H. 3924. This bill proposes regulating the sale of hemp‑derived consumables at locations with valid off-premises beer and wine permit or a retail liquor store licenses. In its current version, it lists all substances subject to these restrictions and includes synthetics or analog derivatives of them. They could not be sold to anyone under 21 years old, and retailers will have to have signage, shelf-talkers, and stickers on cooler doors, so as to clearly indicate to consumers the product contains hemp-derived cannabinoids. Minors assisting law enforcement with investigations, who have their parents’ or guardians’ permission as well as anyone aged 18 to 21 years old, would be exempt from these statutory prohibitions while doing so. Also, everyone is still prohibited from consuming any of these edibles containing any controlled substances. Violators face from $200 to $500 in fines and/or imprisonment for up to 30 days for each infraction. Limited exceptions to these prohibitions are also contained in this bill. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture would have no enforcement responsibilities under this current version. Ag/Nat Res., April 15, 2025.

H. 3930 Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act

The Senate now has H. 3930. This proposed “Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act” would restrict any government entity—other than law enforcement conducting legitimate criminal investigations—from keeping records of privately-owned firearms. Violators would face penalties set out in this pending bill. Judiciary, April 14, 2025.

H. 4011 DMV May Issue Temporary Driver Identification Certificates

H. 4011 provides that the DMV may issue temporary driver identification certificates was sent to the Senate. The bill would delete the term "temporary driver's permit" and replace it with the term "temporary driving certificate.” The bill would allow the DMV to collect an expedited fee for the accelerated production and mailing of beginners, permits drivers licenses and identification hard cards. This is in response to the DMV’s move to a central issue method [Fall 2025] for providing cards. Also, the term "resident of South Carolina" shall expressly include all persons authorized by the United States Department of Justice, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, or the United States Department of State to live, work, or study in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis who present documents indicating their intent to live, work, or study in South Carolina.” A driver's license or identification card issued pursuant to this item to a person who is not a lawful permanent resident of the United States shall expire on the later of: (1) the expiration date of the driver's license applicant's authorized period of stay in the United States; or (2) the expiration date of the applicant's employment authorization document provided the driver's license or identification card is valid for no more than eight years. Transportation, April 9, 2025.

H. 3831 Smart Heart Act

H. 3831 was sent to the Senate. The bill would enact the "Smart Heart Act" and provide for the development and implementation of a cardiac emergency response plan in each public school. This would include the automated external defibrillator program in high schools - to provide that each public school would ensure the presence of an automated external defibrillator onsite and within certain proximity of school athletic venues (there are related testing, maintenance, and personnel training requirements). Education, April 9, 2025.

H. 3841 Extension of Property Tax Exemptions Following a Homeowner’s Death

The House sent the Senate H. 3841, a bill authorizing the extension of property tax exemptions and special assessment rates following a homeowner’s death. The legislation provides that when an owner receiving the special property tax assessment rate on a residence dies, the property shall continue to receive the special assessment rate until the decedent’s estate is closed, upon the recording of a deed or deed of distribution out of the estate, or after December thirty‑first of the year following the date of death, whichever occurs first. This extension does not apply if the property is rented for more than seventy‑two days in or following the calendar year of the decedent’s death or if a change of use occurs. The legislation provides a similar extension for any property tax exemption that the deceased owner had been receiving. Finance, April 9, 2025.

H. 3869 Sales Tax Exemption for Clothing Used in Food Manufacturing Facilities

The House sent the Senate H. 3869, a bill providing a sales tax exemption for protective clothing used in perishable prepared food manufacturing facilities. The legislation establishes a sales tax exemption for clothing required by current good manufacturing practices at perishable prepared food manufacturing facilities to prevent health hazards, including outer garments, gloves, hairnets, headbands, beard covers, caps, and other attire worn by workers to protect against contamination of food. Finance, April 9, 2025.

H. 3927 Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act

The House sent H. 3927 to the Senate. The Education Committee recommended a strike-and-replace amendment outlining several provisions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in state and quasi-state agencies, including public institutions of higher learning, school districts, charter schools, and other political subdivisions in South Carolina. This amendment would prohibit the creation of DEI-specific offices, prevent DEI statements, mandate that these entities cannot require or give preferential treatment based on DEI statements, prohibit preferential or differential treatment of individuals, and ensure that hiring and admissions processes do not discriminate based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics. It also ensures that each entity complies with the Equal Protection Clause and that no individual’s First Amendment rights are infringed upon. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing this act and can bring legal action if necessary. This act requires each entity to annually report by August 1st each year complaints and violations of this act to the South Carolina Department of Administration, including the resolution or status of the complaint. The DOA must then summarize and share this report with the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate by October 1st each year. This act contains whistleblower protections. Judiciary, April 10, 2025.

H. 3387 Ejectment of Unlawful Occupants of a Residential Dwelling

Headed to the Senate is H. 3387, a proposed new code section that would be known as the "Ejectment of Unlawful Occupants of a Residential Dwelling." It also would establish an alternative remedy to removing anyone unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling and establish a criminal offense of criminal mischief.

Dwelling owners, their agents, or personal representatives, with buildings not open to the public, occupied without permission by anyone who is not a former tenant or family member, that have not been leased within the past three months, when no litigation is pending, and without any authority to be there, could be removed. Violators face up to three years in jail or fines of up to $3,000. Restraining orders could also be obtained.

It also grants immunity from civil liability for authorized enforcement officials removing these unwanted interlopers. Dwelling owners also could seek reimbursement for any damages done to their dwellings, a $1,000 statutory award, and court costs. Appeal of any order to vacate the premises would not stay its effect, and an appellant can file an affidavit, on a form set out in this pending legislation, to pay rent to the owner during the pendency of any appeal to stay the execution of any ejectment order.

As amended during the House Floor debate, this legislation now extends its scope to recreational vehicle parks. Any guest in these parks who has illegal drugs, engages in disorderly conduct, damages the park or its facilities, violates posted rules, or fails to pay space rent fees, can be removed once owners show they have complied with all prerequisites to effect the removal of that park user and their recreational vehicle. Judiciary, April 9, 2025.

H. 3556 Reforming Primary Protest Procedures

H. 3556 would update primary protest procedures. State executive committees would hear protests and contests in the case of partisan county officers, less than partisan county officers, and partisan municipal officers, within two weeks of being filed, among other things, under this proposal that would replace existing procedures. State executive committees could adopt a resolution to require election protest or contest filers to post a bond with surety for up to $750 to cover the costs of reviewing and hearing any protests. Successful election disputers would be refunded this payment if they are successful. An appeals process for state executive committee decisions would be directly to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Judiciary, April 1, 2025.

H. 3557 General Election Candidacy Reforms

The Senate received H. 3557 after it passed the House. This proposal seeks to shorten candidate filing periods by five days, require all candidates from each political party in this state to pay filing fees, and would authorize political parties to charge up to a $100 certification fee to be paid by their candidates. All candidates would have to pay even if a primary is not conducted. The shortened filing period would be from March 16 to 25^th [currently set by law to be March 30^th]. It would also change the date for party pledges to be filed on specified forms to March 25th. Judiciary, April 1, 2025

H. 3731 Special Purpose District Authority Sunset Suspension

The Senate will be receiving, H. 3731 Special Purpose District Authority Sunset Suspension. If enacted, this proposed legislation would sunset the existing sunset date for special purpose district authority to own, dispose, acquire, purchase, hold, use, lease, convey, sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of their property. Judiciary, April 1, 2025.

H. 3842 Physical Therapist and Certification of Temporary Disability

The House sent H. 3842 to the Senate. The bill allows a physical therapist to certify temporary disability for up to 30 days to support an individual’s application for a handicapped placard. Medical Affairs, March 26, 2025.

H. 4069 Patient-Friendly Billing For Health Services

The House sent to the Senate H. 4069, a bill dealing with patient-friendly billing for health services. Beginning January 1, 2026, this bill requires healthcare facilities that requests payment from a patient after providing a healthcare service must provide an itemized bill, electronically or in writing, to the patient and the bill must be made available no later than the 30th day after the service(s). A patient may waive the right to receive an itemized bill. The itemized bill must include a plain language description, in accordance with the most current billing reading level requirements and guidance provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, for each distinct healthcare service and the quantity of the supply provided. As a result, a healthcare facility may not pursue debt collection against a patient for a provided healthcare service unless the healthcare facility has complied with this section. Medical Affairs, March 26, 2025.

H. 3007 Balanced Budget Amendment US Constitutional Convention

The House sent to the Senate, H. 3007, which is a proposed concurrent resolution to make South Carolina file a continuing application, under Article V of the United States Constitution, for a convention of the states to be called only for imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government via a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution. The only exception to this requirement would be instances of national emergencies. The 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th US Constitutional Amendments could not be part of these delegates’ actions or considerations at this proposed convention. In addition, delegates’ qualifications, compensation, reimbursements, and actions at such a convention would be as prescribed by the South Carolina General Assembly [Refer to H. 3558]. On the Senate calendar, April 16, 2025.

H. 3558 US Constitutional Convention Commissioners Conduct

The House sent to the Senate, H. 3558, a proposal to set out the qualifications, appointment, oath, and duties of commissioners appointed to represent South Carolina at any Article V Convention. They would undergo citizenship verifications, criminal background checks, personal finance checks, and employment history verifications, among other things. An advisory committee would provide oversight of, and advice to, commissioners on the proper conduct for discharging their duties. South Carolina’s Attorney General would investigate any allegations of commissioner misconduct.

Commissioners would receive compensation based on a pro rata share of the annual salary paid to General Assembly members. In addition, they would be reimbursed for mileage, collect subsistence, and paid per diem.

As part of discharging their duties, these commissioners could not consider the 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, 19^th, 23^rd, 24^th, or 26^th amendments to the US Constitution. Anyone attempting, or succeeding in, bribing or otherwise attempting to influence commissioners would face fines of up to $1,000 and up to one year of jail time. Judiciary, March 11, 2025.

H. 3195 Standards for Physical Activity and Physical Education

The House sent the Senate H. 3195. H. 3195 relates to standards for physical activity and physical education in kindergarten through eighth grade (expanding into middle school). Every student in grades 4-K through eighth grade must be given a minimum of 20 minutes of outdoor recess in addition to the time necessary to meet the physical education standards. Kindergarten through fifth grade students must continue to receive a minimum of 1.5 hours of physical education per week. Six through eighth grade students must receive a minimum of 60 hours of physical education each school year. In the event of inclement weather, recess may be held indoors. Recess periods may not be used to satisfy P.E. requirements and withholding recess may not be used as a punishment. P.E. teacher to student ratio applies to kindergarten through grade eight with ratios as set forth in State Board of Education regulations. Exceptions are provided. An identical bill (H. 4655) was adopted by the House last session by a vote of 110-0. Education, February 18, 2025.

H. 3570 Public Members Statements of Economic Interest

The House has sent to the Senate, H. 3570, an effort to require anyone nominated to, or contracting with, any state boards, commissions, or councils to be considered a public member or someone who has to file a statement of economic interest.

Nominees to a noncompensated, part-time position on a state board, commission, or council would have to file a confidential public interest statement when appointed. This confidential statement would be made public after their appointment is completed. If anyone subject to the provisions of this proposal would receive a request from the state ethics committee for their statement of economic interests, they would have to file it within 10 days of this notice being received. Political subdivision directors, finance officers, and purchasing officials would be exempt from these requirements. Judiciary, February 13, 2025.

H. 3020 Legal Pinball Machine Playing by Minors

The House sent the Senate H. 3020, an effort to allow minors to play pinball by repealing antiquated South Carolina laws prohibiting them from playing. Judiciary, February 13, 2025.

H. 3502 South Carolina Department of Social Services [SC DSS] Responsibilities to Children When Making Decisions

The Senate has received H. 3502, which would specify that SC DSS legal representatives would have to ensure that any child’s welfare and safety would be their predominant bases for any recommendations and decisions they make in child welfare proceedings. In addition, it sets out that attorneys representing SC DSS would have the sole discretion over decisions to pursue, settle, or appeal any SC DSS case. Family/Vets. February 13, 2025.

H. 3254 Physician’s Examination

The House sent the Senate H. 3254, a bill allowing for an additional required examination to be waived for physicians practicing in certain state agencies if the Board of Medical Examiners determine that the applicant possesses the necessary general medical knowledge to competently practice medicine. Medical Affairs, February 18, 2025.

H. 3022 Long-Term Care Council

The House sent the Senate H. 3022, a bill relating to the Long-Term Care Council. The bill updates the Council’s membership references and provides for the sharing of data with member agencies for purposes of planning, as well as allowing agency heads membership to add a designee. Medical Affairs, February 18, 2025.

H. 3431 Social Media Regulation Act (Restricting Minor-Owned Accounts)

H. 3431, proposed legislation that would set out that social media companies (i.e., those earning over $25 million in annual gross revenues, that provide services, products, or other features to the public over the internet) could not allow certain minors to be account holders without easy-to-use parental controls, allowing access only to age-appropriate code designed-based features, and other specified restrictions being in place. Telecommunications, broadband internet access services, and any entity providing or selling a physical product are not covered by this pending legislation.

As part of this bill, providers would be required to identify users’ compulsive usage of their offered features. Compulsive usage would include disturbance of major life activities including sleeping, eating, learning, reading, concentrating, communicating, working, or any combination of them.

These providers would have to make commercially reasonable efforts to ensure their features could not be bypassed via VPNs, proxy servers, or other similar technologies. In addition, they could not display unsolicited advertisements to minors targeted specifically to them based on their personal data. However, publicly-available data about anyone would not fall under this prohibition. Sensitive personal data is protected however and is set out in this bill as including social security, driver’s license, state identification, and passport numbers.

These social media companies would have to provide minors’ parents or guardians with easy-to-use tools and features to assist with monitoring minors’ social media activities. It also would restrict notifications and push alerts being sent outside the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. From the months of August to the following May, these prohibited hours expand to 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

South Carolina’s Attorney General would have responsibility for enforcing the prohibitions contained in this bill, as well as any other applicable state laws. For example, in addition to existing civil and criminal causes of action, the use of dark patterns by providers would be an unfair trade practice subject to litigation as set forth under South Carolina’s Unfair Trade Practices Act. Read third time in the Senate and returned to House with amendments on May 6, 2025 (on House calendar).

H. 3798 State Militia Chaplain Communications Confidentiality

Also in the Senate is H. 3798, a bill that would include state militia chaplains in state law so that their communications with penitents would also be considered privileged and confidential. This privilege could be waived by penitents or could be ordered to be released by a judge in certain circumstances, however. Family/Veteran, February 19, 2025.

H. 3843 Budget Proviso Codification Act of 2025

The House sent the Senate H. 3843, the “Budget Proviso Codification Act of 2025.” This bill gathers numerous temporary provisions routinely included in previous years’ general appropriation acts and incorporates them into South Carolina’s statutes as permanent law provisions. Finance, February 25, 2025.

H. 3259 Personal Automobile Insurance Policies of First Responders

The House sent the Senate H. 3259, a bill addressing personal automobile insurance policies of first responders. This legislation provides that, in determining the premium rates for a personal automobile insurance policy of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, or emergency medical technician, it is unlawful to consider the work‑related driving records of the first responders if they are found to be noncontributing on a collision report or are involved in a collision when responding to an emergency call. The provision applies to volunteer first responders and first responders employed by local, state, or federal governments. Senate calendar, April 29, 2025.

H. 3048 Coroner Candidate Additional Qualifications

Also sent to the Senate is H. 3048 coroner candidate additional qualifications. This bill would revise additional eligible qualifications, so that in order to be a viable candidate, the completion of a forensic science degree or certification program would count. Mere enrollment in either educational pursuit would no longer be considered an additional qualification should this bill be enacted. Judiciary, February 26, 2025 .

H. 3629 Timberland

In an effort to help the declining timber industry, the House sent the Senate H. 3629. The bill allows the Forestry Commission to acquire timberland in addition to what is currently acquired, submarginal agricultural lands. The legislation also cleans up and clarifies language as a result of the House Legislative Oversight Committee report on the State Forestry Commission. Fish, Game and Forestry, March 4, 2025.

H. 3447 HOA Forecloses on Property

The House sent the Senate H. 3447, a bill requiring homeowners associations to provide homeowners with additional notice before a HOA forecloses on property. The legislation provides that any homeowners association with the authority to foreclose on the property of a homeowners association member must in the case of a default by a defendant property owner make application for a rule to show cause to be issued to the defendant property owner. No foreclosure sale may be noticed prior to the issuance of the rule to show cause. Judiciary, March 4, 2025.

H. 3872 Hunting Heritage Protection Act

The House sent the Senate H. 3872, a bill dealing with managed lands owned by the Department of Natural Resources, under the Hunting Heritage Protection Act. The Department of Natural Resources can only manage lands that is owned. As a result, the legislation deletes the reference “lease” land to ensure that there is no net loss of the department’s managed land for hunting and fishing. Fish, Game and Forestry, March 4, 2025.

H. 3021 Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act

The House of Representatives sent the Senate H. 3021, the “Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act.” This bill overhauls the process by which state agencies promulgate regulations and submit them to the General Assembly for approval, making comprehensive revisions to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. The legislation requires a regular, thorough review of all regulations every seven years. Regulations that are not re-adopted by the General Assembly under this review cycle are scheduled to sunset automatically. Exemption from this automatic expiration is provided for: regulations required to comply with federal law or receive federal funding; regulations created with grants of rulemaking authority under the South Carolina Constitution; and, regulations created by an agency that is directly managed by an elected official. The Small Business Regulatory Review Committee is charged with conducting an initial review of regulations pending reauthorization and making recommendations to lawmakers as to whether reauthorization is appropriate. In conducting its review, the committee is assigned the duty of reducing the overall regulatory burden on businesses by reducing the number of regulatory requirements by 25 percent. The legislation provides that an agency may not promulgate any regulation unless the agency has been expressly granted the power to do so by a statutory delegation. If a statute authorizes promulgation of a regulation, that authority expires three years after the statute takes effect. A longer period is allowed for statutory delegations currently in effect and exceptions are provided so that the authority does not expire in the case of emergency regulations or for certain other regulations such as those that are required to conform to state or federal law and those that are necessary for maintaining eligibility to receive federal grants or appropriations. The legislation requires an agency to identify and propose the removal of two existing regulations for each regulation the agency proposes to add. New procedures are established for performing detailed cost-benefit calculations for regulations, and regulations determined to have higher costs are subjected to a higher threshold for adoption. When businesses and agencies have legal disputes over regulations, the legislation makes provisions for shifting the burden of proof to the agency. The legislation provides that someone aggrieved by a regulation may challenge the validity of the regulation on the grounds that the agency lacked express statutory authority to promulgate the regulation. Judiciary, March 11, 2025 .

H. 3650 Discharging Firearms Into a Dwelling

The House has passed, and sent to the Senate, H. 3650, proposed legislation to revise this criminal offense of knowingly and intentionally discharging firearms at --or into-- a home, other building, structure, enclosure, vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other conveyance, device, or equipment, and would be added to South Carolina’s list of violent crimes. Violators would face fines from $20,000 to $50,000 and jail time from up to 10 years in jail to up to 15 years in jail depending on the exact nature of the offense they have committed, and whether lasting bodily injury occurs as a result of their intentional actions. On the Senate calendar, March 16, 2025.

H. 3045 Child Abuse Pornography

H. 3045 has been sent to the Senate. This bill would create the criminal offense of obscene visual depictions of child sexual abuse. Criminal penalties for adults range from two to ten years in jail. It covers the creation, possession, and distribution of these items and sets out proposed definitions, and requirements, for convicted Tier I and Tier II adult violators, to enroll onto the South Carolina’s sex offender registry for 15 to 25 years after completing their terms of incarceration and having to pay a fee in order to be delisted after this time passes.

Telecommunication services or other information services would not be able to be drawn into the penumbra of this pending legislation for merely providing a platform for these depictions to be posted, absent some other affirmative action taken by them.

Minors committing this offense would be tried in Family Court, and law enforcement officials and prosecutors could not be charged for possessing these items when they are part of an ongoing investigation or prosecution. Family Court judges could require minor offenders to undergo behavioral health counseling as part of sentencing but could not require these minors to register as sex offenders. Judiciary, April 10, 2025.

H. 3305 South Carolina Public Expression Protection Act

The House has passed and sent to the Senate, the "South Carolina Public Expression Protection Act." It would extend specified protections to anyone sued for First Amendment-protected communications they have made in legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceedings. To protect them from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation [“SLAPP”], it sets out a right to an expedited judicial review, and a scope for that review, of all allegations made in those filings. After limited discovery -–i.e., related to any motion to dismiss-- these actions would be scrutinized for lack of merit, should this proposal become South Carolina law. Also, in its current version, an interlocutory appeal could be filed from any lower court order denying a motion to dismiss. Senate calendar (on 2^nd reading), May 1, 2025.

H. 3046 Identifiable Minors Sexual Exploitation

The House has sent the Senate, H. 3046. By defining "identifiable minors” and “morphed images,” this legislative effort would add these depictions into current state criminal laws covering sexual exploitation of minors.

They would also be added to the offense of criminally using morphed child images, including employing anyone under eighteen years old to appear in public in a state of sexually explicit nudity. It also would amend South Carolina’s Sexually Violent Predator Act and sex offender registration requirements to include this crime in its purview.

Depending on the nature of the offense committed, as either a Tier I or a Tier II crime, sentencing minimums and maximums would apply, and any registration requirements could be applied to be removed after 15 or 25 years elapse.

Law enforcement officials and prosecutors properly handling these materials in enforcement actions or prosecutions would be exempt from being charged with these crimes. Judiciary, April 10, 2025.

H. 3524 Victim Service Provider Certifications

The House has passed and sent to the Senate, H. 3524. This proposal would require crime victim service providers to be certified. In addition, this bill would exclude mental health clinicians licensed in South Carolina from being considered victim service providers. Judiciary, April 10, 2025.

H. 3525 Crime Victim Advocacy Legal Updates

Also, in the Senate after passing the House is H. 3525, a proposal to clarify incidents necessitating victim advocate assisting survivors of domestic violence incidents. This bill makes updates to existing training and technical assistance to be provided by the Department of Crime Victim Compensation for municipalities and counties. It would modify crime victim fund provisions, conduct of a victim or intervenor contributing to infliction of injury, update references to the definition of "intervenor," remove references to spouse abuse to reference domestic violence instead, and make other modifications to better reflect current areas of responsibilities for these workers and changes in state agency operations. This Department would name three members to serve on its board. This pending legislation also would remove consent as an exception to the offense of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Judiciary, April 10, 2025.

H. 3285 Autism Spectrum Disorder Training

The House has passed and sent the Senate H. 3285 . This bill now resides in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Under this proposed bill, law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians would have to complete training in autism spectrum disorders, including how to identify and interact properly with these individuals. Judiciary, April 9, 2025.

H. 3856 Comprehensive DMV Changes and Updates

H. 3856 was sent to the Senate. The bill relates to numerous issues regarding driver’s licenses and permits, including definitions related to veterans, rental trailers, blood type, medical information, dealer licenses, dealer and whole sellers plates, auction licenses and fees, revise the definition of the term “bus,” modifies driver instructor permits (regarding the expiration dates for the permits and provide a schedule of fees), and would modify the points system for evaluating performance records of dealers. Transportation, April 9, 2025.

H. 3768 Transportation Improvement Projects

H. 3768 was sent to the Senate. The bill relates to highway system construction to change the sunset expiration provision regarding transportation improvement projects to July 1, 2031. Finance, April 9, 2025.

H. 3801 Repairs to Bridges, Highways and Roads

H. 3801 was adopted, given third reading and sent to the Senate. The bill relates to exemptions from the state procurement code, adding planning for repairs to bridges, highways, roads, and other improvements on South Carolina’s rights of way to the list of exemptions. Finance, April 9, 2025.

H. 3578 Cursive Writing

H. 3578 was sent to the Senate. The bill relates to the requirement that cursive writing be taught in public elementary schools, so as to specify that the cursive writing instruction must begin in third grade and continue in each grade through fifth grade. Education, April 9, 2025.

H. 3163 Firefighters’ Occupational Diseases

The House sent to the Senate H. 3163, a bill addressing firefighters’ occupational diseases under Workers’ Compensation. The legislation includes stroke among occupational diseases compensable under Workers’ Compensation and conditions presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment for firefighters. The legislation provides for more detailed presumption entitlement criteria to clarify that they include conditions developed while actively engaged in fighting a fire, a technical rescue incident, or a strenuous training exercise. Clerical, administrative, or sedentary activities are specifically excluded from the presumption. Judiciary, April 23, 2025.

H. 3969 Personal Delivery Devices (re Richland County) (vetoed, pending)

H. 3129 Personal Delivery Devices

The House sent the Senate H. 3129, a bill addressing the operation of personal delivery devices. The legislation establishes provisions governing the operation of relatively small, electrically-powered personal delivery devices intended for transporting cargo that are equipped with automated driving technology enabling operation with or without the remote support and supervision of a human. Provisions include speed limits for personal delivery devices and specification of the pedestrian areas where they are permitted to operate. For the purpose of assuring public safety, a local government having jurisdiction over public streets, sidewalks, alleys, bridges, and other ways of public passage may, by ordinance, regulate the time and place of the operation of personal delivery devices, but they are not allowed to prohibit their use, altogether. A business that operates a personal delivery device is required to maintain an insurance policy that includes general liability coverage of not less than $500,000 per claim for damages arising from its operation. These provisions are set to expire three years after their enactment. Transportation, April 23, 2025.

H. 3756 Hurricane Helene Storm Recovery Bonds

The House sent the Senate H. 3756, a bill authorizing electrical utility issuance of Hurricane Helene storm recovery bonds under an expedited storm damage securitization process due to the significant and unprecedented damage caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024 to public and private property in South Carolina, including widespread destruction of utility infrastructure. To contend with the extraordinary expenses, the legislation provides authority for an electrical utility to include as storm recovery costs, for Hurricane Helene only, its cost of capital from the date of the storm through the issuance of storm recovery bonds to repair, restore, and rebuild infrastructure. This cost of capital shall be determined by the actual interest rate paid by the utility to borrow funds necessary to cover the restoration and recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene up to specified maximum limits. Judiciary, March 11, 2025.

Index

H. 3022, 21

H. 3254, 20

H. 3453, 12

H. 3731, 18

H. 3842, 18

H. 4069, 18

H. 4342, 11

Acts

Budget Proviso Codification Act of 2025, 22

Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act, 17

High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act of 2013, 13

Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act, 7

Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, 15

Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, 23

Smart Heart Act, 16

South Carolina Computer Science Education Initiative Act, 14

South Carolina Healthy Schools Act, 10

South Carolina Public Expression Protection Act, 24

South Carolina STEM Opportunity Act, 14

Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act, 10

addressing firefighters’ occupational diseases under Workers’ Compensation, 13

H. 3214, 6

H. 3223, 6

H. 3950, 6

H. 3967, 5

H. 4478, 11

H. 3629, 22

H. 3872, 23

aliens with status to be in the United States, 16

American Heroes Bingo, 8

Article V, 19

autism spectrum disorders, 26

automated external defibrillator, 16

balanced budget amendment, 19

bingo license, 8

birth, adoption or the fostering of a child, 10

Budget Proviso Codification Act of 2025, 22

candidate filing periods, 18

canneries, public school-based community, 6

canteens, 5

cardiac emergency response plan in each public school, 16

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 19

certification fee, 18

child sexual abuse

obscene visual representations, 24

child welfare and safety predominant, 20

choral anthem of South Carolina, 7

claim with the patient's health insurer, 5

Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Permit Applications, 13

co-curricular activities, extracurricular activities, 10

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 13

Comptroller General

requires the Comptroller General to confirm each year the accuracy of cash and investments in the treasury for the previous fiscal year, 13

Computer Science Education Initiative Act

for the expansion and enhancement of computer science education in public high schools, 14

computer-based automated systems compatible with state library systems, repeal of requirement, 14

coroner candidate additional qualifications, 22

cursive writing, 26

debt collection, 19

decedent’s estate, 16

DEI, 17

Department of Crime Victim Compensation, 25

Department of Natural Resources, 23

diversity, equity, and inclusion, 17

DMV, 16, 26

Domestic violence incident survivors, 15

domestic violence incident survivors as protected tenants, 15

driver identification certificates, temporary, 16

driver’s licenses and permits, 26

driver’s records and identification, 26

Dum spiro spero, 7

Education

H. 3195, 19

H. 3201, 14

H. 3250, 14

H. 3251, 14

H. 3258, 14

H. 3578, 26

H. 3758, 7

H. 3768, 26

H. 3801, 26

H. 3802, 10

H. 3831, 16

H. 3856, 26

H. 3863, 14

H. 3927, 17

H. 3944, 14

H. 3949, 7

H. 3974, 11

H. 4011, 16

H. 4249, 7

H. 4257, 6

H. 4339, 10

ejectment of unlawful occupants of a residential dwelling, 17

electric battery powered motor vehicles, 14

emergency scene management, 7

Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act, 17

Equal Protection Clause, 17

evaluation of public school students for health, behavioral health, or therapeutic needs, 11

expedited fee for the accelerated production and mailing of cards, 16

firearms, 24, See guns, See guns

firefighters’ occupational diseases under Workers’ Compensation, 26

First Amendment, 17

First Amendment-protected communications, 24

flag of the United States of America, 8

food additives in school meals, prohibiting the use of harmful, 10

food manufacturing facilities

perishable prepared food, 17

free tuition for veterans’ children, 12

garments

protective regarding food, 17

general appropriation acts, 22

general election candidacy reforms, 18

general election process reforms, 18

guns, 15

H 3650, 24

H. 3007, 19

H. 3020, 20

H. 3021, 23

H. 3022, 21

H. 3045, 24

H. 3046, 25

H. 3048, 22

H. 3049, 10

H. 3089, 5

H. 3129, 27

H. 3163, 13, 26

H. 3195, 19

H. 3201, 14

H. 3214, 6

H. 3223, 6

H. 3250, 14

H. 3251, 14

H. 3254, 20

H. 3258, 14

H. 3259, 22

H. 3285, 26

H. 3305, 24

H. 3335, 8

H. 3387, 17

H. 3431, 21

H. 3447, 23

H. 3453, 12

H. 3502, 20

H. 3514, 8

H. 3524, 25

H. 3525, 25

H. 3556, 18

H. 3557, 18

H. 3558, 19

H. 3569, 15

H. 3570, 20

H. 3578, 26

H. 3629, 22

H. 3645, 10

H. 3731, 18

H. 3756, 27

H. 3758, 7

H. 3768, 26

H. 3798, 22

H. 3801, 26

H. 3802, 10

H. 3831, 16

H. 3841, 16

H. 3842, 18

H. 3843, 22

H. 3856, 26

H. 3858, 9

H. 3863, 14

H. 3869, 16

H. 3872, 23

H. 3924, 15

H. 3925, 12

H. 3927, 17

H. 3929, 5

H. 3930, 15

H. 3931, 13

H. 3944, 14

H. 3949, 7

H. 3950, 6

H. 3967, 5

H. 3974, 11

H. 4000, 5

H. 4011, 16

H. 4069, 18

H. 4129, 9

H. 4134, 13

H. 4137, 8

H. 4216, 12

H. 4249, 7

H. 4257, 6

H. 4300, 5

H. 4303, 8

H. 4305, 7

H. 4337, 8

H. 4339, 10

H. 4342, 11

H. 4478, 11

handicapped placard, 18

healthcare facilities, 18

Healthy Schools Act, 10

hemp‑derived consumables, 15

High Growth Small Business Job Creation Act of 2013, 13

HOA forecloses on property, 23

Hurricane Helene

school days missed, 14

Hurricane Helene storm recovery bonds, 27

identifiable minors, 25

identification card, 16

Index, 28

intentionally discharging firearms, 24

interscholastic activities of public-school districts by home school, charter school, and governor's school students, 11

itemized bill, 19

Judicial retirement system vesting and mandatory retirement age, 5

Judiciary

H 3650, 24

H. 3007, 19

H. 3020, 20

H. 3045, 24

H. 3046, 25

H. 3048, 22

H. 3049, 10

H. 3285, 26

H. 3305, 24

H. 3335, 8

H. 3387, 17

H. 3431, 21

H. 3502, 20

H. 3524, 25

H. 3525, 25

H. 3556, 18

H. 3557, 18

H. 3558, 19

H. 3569, 15

H. 3570, 20

H. 3798, 22

H. 3924, 15

H. 3929, 5

H. 3930, 15

H. 4000, 5

H. 4300, 5

H. 4337, 8

law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians, 26

LCI

H. 3021, 23

H. 3163, 13

H. 3259, 22

H. 3447, 23

H. 3756, 27

H. 3931, 13

Long-Term Care Council, 21

managed lands, 23

metric education committee

repeal of, 14

military chaplains, 22

minors, 20, 21

mobile panic alert systems in each public school in the state, 14

occupying a residential dwelling, unlawfully, 17

oversight of state finances, 12

paid parental leave, increasing state employee, 10

personal automobile insurance policies of first responders, 22

personal delivery devices

electrically-powered personal delivery devices intended for transporting cargo that are equipped with automated driving technology enabling operation with or without the remote support and supervision of a human, 27

physical activity and physical education, standards for, 19

physical therapist to certify temporary disability, 18

physician’ examinations, 20

primary protest procedures, updating, 18

protests and contests, 18

Public Expression Protection Act, 24

public forums and voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints, 7

public member, 20

reading level requirements, 19

religious antidiscrimination, 7

Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act, 7

requirements for flags made in the United States, 8

school days missed due to inclement weather

wavier due to Hurricane Helene, 14

Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, 15

sex offender registration requirements, 25

Sexually Violent Predator Act, 25

Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, 23

Smart Heart Act

cardiac emergency response plan in each public school, 16

social media companies

minors prohibited as account holders, 21

soil classifiers who help in the septic tank permitting, 6

South Carolina STEM Opportunity Act, 14

the goal of which is to build a technology-ready STEM workforce and ensure South Carolina students are prepared for STEM career opportunities, 14

special purpose district authority sunset suspension, 18

sporting contests and games of skill

winning prizes in, 9

starting fires or prohibiting all open burnings, 11

State Board of Education, 15

State Department of Education, 15

State Forestry Commission, 22

state library systems, 14

state procurement code, exemptions from

planning for repairs to bridges, highways, roads, and other improvements, 26

State Treasurer

is to establish detailed reporting requirements and duties for the State Treasurer to ensure the accuracy of the financial data and inform the General Assembly of any substantive concerns, 12

to maintain an accounting of cash and investments in the treasury by agency and the South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS) fund and produce an annual report of the accounting for the previous fiscal year that is submitted, 12

statement of economic interest, 20

taxes

extension of property tax exemptions and special assessment rates following a homeowner’s death, 16

sales tax exemption for protective clothing used in perishable prepared food manufacturing facilities, 16

state income tax reform and elimination, 12

taxation of cigarettes for heating, 8

taxation of watercraft, 9

technical college libraries, 14

Telecommunication services, 24

telehealth services

veterinarians, 6

temporary driving certificate, 16

timberland, 22

to evaluate public school students for health, behavioral health, or therapeutic needs, 11

transportation improvement projects, sunsetting, 26

Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act, 10

uniform system of compulsory school attendance enforcement, 7

US Constitutional Convention Commissioners Conduct, 19

veterans organizations, 8

veterinarians

telehealth services, 6

W&M