WORK TO BE DONE: Gov. McMaster highlights areas of emphasis when lawmakers return next month

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The legislative session may have ended last week at the statehouse, but lawmakers will soon be back.

The House and Senate returns June 5th to work compromises on a number of bills.

“They got a lot of things done. Some are very important. We’re happy about the graduated penalties for illegal gun possession,” said Gov. Henry McMaster at a press conference on Monday. “This is something I and others have been working on for years. We know that we have a revolving door of career criminals.”

Governor McMaster is also pleased with tuition freezes, the state income tax going down and teacher pay going up.

“By 2026, we’re hoping that the starting salary will be at least $50,000. That’s the goal I have set,” McMaster said. “We hope it will be more than that and it looks like we’re going in the right direction.”

Conference committees will work to help the House and Senate compromise on a judicial reform bill. The governor additionally wants lawmakers to work on an energy reform bill.

“Last December, we almost had some blackouts. We came close,” he said. “We have to have power in our state to support the needs of today and the future.”

McMaster stressed his desire to see the reorganization of several of the state’s healthcare agencies, saying that they are not effectively serving the people of South Carolina. 

“I hope they will find a way to get that bill into a conference committee and solve this problem. We cannot wait another day,” the governor said. “If you look at our institutions, we have young people going to the Department of Juvenile Justice who should not be going there. They ought to be in a mental health institution.”

The main order of business for lawmakers on June 5th is choosing a new state supreme court justice out of three possible candidates.