A key deadline for legislation is coming up soon at the South Carolina Statehouse. Thursday marks the crossover deadline. Any bill that passes the House or Senate after that deadline must get a two-thirds vote in the other chamber to be considered.
The South Carolina Senate has unanimously passed a proposal that would require all schools to provide in-person classes five days a week starting as soon as April 12. The proposal passed Wednesday would also require schools provide five day a week classes next school year too.
Inside the Statehouse, Democratic lawmakers are calling for Medicaid expansion in South Carolina. Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus met with the media Tuesday to discuss the passage of the American Rescue Plan, which includes new incentives for states to expand Medicaid.
South Carolina lawmakers will hold hearings this spring on a bill to split up the state’s sprawling public health and environmental agency. A proposal by Senate President Harvey Peeler Tuesday would separate the Department of Health and Environmental Control into two new cabinet-level agencies.
The South Carolina House is taking the week off and the Senate will take a long Easter weekend.
The South Carolina Senate has passed a bill to fine people who don’t get over from the left lane of a three-lane highway when overtaken by traffic.
After passing in the House, hate crime legislation is now making its way through the South Carolina Senate. Wednesday morning, a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee heard testimony from various organizations and the business community in favor of passing the bill that would create harsher penalties for crimes based on race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
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.
