2024 legislative session begins at SC statehouse
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Lawmakers were back at the statehouse today for day one of the legislative session.
Both chambers, the House and the Senate, met for the first time this year on the floor.
Republican lawmakers have the majority in both the House and Senate. This afternoon, a group of Republican representatives known as the ‘Family Caucus’ laid out their goals for the new legislative session.
“I’m going to start out by saying that our number one bill this year is the ‘Help Not Harm’ Bill,” said Rep. John McCravy from Greenwood.
This proposed bill would prohibit anyone under age 18 from receiving gender reassignment surgery. Twenty-three other states have passed similar legislation.
“In my 20 years in the statehouse, I never thought I’d be talking about a bill that defines a male and a female,” said Rep. David Hiott from Pickens. “Unfortunately, that’s where we are in the state of South Carolina and across this country.”
Other bills being pushed by Republicans in the House would protect children from inappropriate online content.
“The technology is all right here. All we have to do is make the manufacturer put the filter on,” said Rep. Travis Moore from Spartanburg. “Protect our children so they don’t have access to this material.”
Another bill proposed aims to improve the lives of those who have served our country in the military.
“It’s a tax cut for service disabled veterans who serve in this state. It’s also a great recruiting tool,” said Rep. Brandon Cox from Berkeley County. “We have a lot of industry and are one of the fastest growing states in the country. Let’s bring in some veterans that already know how to work, have been trained and are skilled.”
Over in the Senate, Democrat Tameika Isaac Devine arrived at the statehouse for her first day representing District 19.
“I was not sure what to expect with the weather and everything else,” Devine said. “We got through a lot of organizational stuff. I know what committees I’m on and I’m ready to get to work.”
This session, Senator Devine hopes to address a Hate Crimes Bill as well as educational funding and mental health.
“People recognize that we have a huge issue in our state. The question is what needs to be done,” she said. “I hope my experience around that issue can add to conversations on the committee level as far as solutions we need to be presenting.”
One thing that Republican lawmakers will not be pushing this year is a more restrictive abortion ban. Rep. McCravy concedes that there are not enough votes in the Senate for that to happen this session.
