The South Carolina House has approved its nearly $10 billion budget. The spending plan provides small raises for teachers and some law enforcement officers, but not all state employees.
Budget debate continued Tuesday at the Statehouse, and abortion was a hot button issue once again.
The South Carolina House has approved a bill that would make buying or selling stolen catalytic converters a separate crime that could bring up to three years in prison.
A State Senate Judiciary Subcommittee will hold a virtual meeting on Santee Cooper reform. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. In February, the House voted to reform the state-owned utility, with the goal of selling it in the future.
South Carolina House members are getting ready to debate the state’s nearly $10 billion spending plan for next year. The budget debate begins Monday with some routine votes.
The potential for severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes Thursday has led the South Carolina Senate to not meet at all and the House to tell members to come only if they feel safe. Nearly all of South Carolina is under a moderate risk of severe storms with forecasters also saying there could be a few strong tornadoes.
A group of South Carolina lawmakers have added back protections for gay or transgender people to a hate crime bill five days after removing them.
There was heated debate on the Statehouse floor Wednesday, as lawmakers discussed the open carry bill. For hours, state representatives went back and forth on whether or not gun owners should be able to carry firearms out in the open.
A second open carry law is making its way through the Statehouse. Tuesday afternoon, members of the House Judiciary Committee began debate on the “Constitutional Carry Act.”
A hate crimes bill in South Carolina no longer offers protection to gay or transgender people.
