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The State House Gavel
The State House Gavel shares updates about the South Carolina General Assembly, including legislative actions, debates and discussions. Featuring news and interviews, so you have access to the latest developments in policy and decisions that shape South Carolina’s future.

The State House Gavel: SC gov signals support for direct car sales

South Carolina Public Radio | By Maayan Schechter,
Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney
Published February 4, 2025 at 6:01 AM EST
GAVIN JACKSON

Statehouse reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter are back at the Capitol reporting what you need to know when lawmakers are in Columbia. They'll post news, important schedules, photos/videos and behind-the-scenes interviews with policymakers.

Happy Tuesday. It's finally February.

Welcome to Week 4 of the South Carolina Legislative session.

Lawmakers are still experiencing some floor activity delays after the ice and snow hit parts of South Carolina last month and derailed a week of session, so expect lots of legislative hearings with heavy agendas this week. (We're looking at you Senate Judiciary Committee.)

The S.C. House and Senate both gavel in at noon.

Like we wrote above, we're not expecting a lot of floor activity this week (though Senate does need to give a third, perfunctory vote on the K-12 voucher bill and Wednesday the Legislature will elect judges.)

What we are watching Tuesday: In particular, the House Republican Caucus. We're told the caucus plans to meet after session to discuss caucus issues and eat lunch but also to check the caucus's pulse when it comes to Republican Treasurer Curtis Loftis, one of three officials at the center of the $1.8 billion accounting error that has, in part, resulted in the resignations of two others: former Comptroller Richard Eckstrom and former state Auditor George Kennedy. Loftis has dismissed calls to resign but lawmakers — in both chambers — are becoming increasingly frustrated with the whole ordeal as the state remains under federal investigation.

This is The State House Gavel, a new daily reporter notebook by reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter that will preview and capture what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse this year while lawmakers are in session.

Notebook highlights:

  • Scout Motors is pushing the pedal on a bill that would allow car companies to sell cars without a third-party auto dealership, which is currently prohibited under state law. The EV carmaker now has the support of the state's top politician.
  • Canada and Mexico agreed to a one-month pause on tariffs with President Donald Trump, who threatened to slap 25% tariffs on both countries. South Carolina leaders said they're in a wait and see mode.
  • Tuesday's freshman tiny mic spotlights Rep. Blake Sanders, an Anderson Republican who sports the best mustache in the chamber.

EV carmaker gets gov support to change state law

A few years ago, a battle between a national winemaker and wholesalers brewed over in the Statehouse that eventually led to a change in state law so that the company could open standalone tasting rooms in South Carolina.

So for the purposes of this post, think a tier system — but cars.

Current law does not allow car manufacturers to sell vehicles directly to customers, so, in this case South Carolinians, state law dictates that buying a car must be done through a licensed third-party dealership.

Therein lies the problem for a company like EV carmaker Scout Motors, which got millions of dollars in state incentives and is building a rather massive plant in Blythewood that the company says will boast some 4,000 workers (which they say doesn't include supplier jobs.) They already employ hundreds of people between the construction site and the company's S.C. headquarters at Bull Street.

Scout doesn't expect the first cars to drive off the assembly line until 2027.

But, until then, the company has launched an aggressive campaign to change state law.

"This is about taking an antiquated, archaic regulation that tells consumers how they have to buy cars and modernizes it. It allows consumers to really shop and buy in the way that they want in South Carolina," Cody Thacker, vice president of growth at Scout, told SC Public Radio.

And, on Monday, they got the backing to change the law from one of the company's main supporters who has the advantage of the bully pulpit: Gov. Henry McMaster.

Listen to what McMaster said below.

Gov. McMaster backs direct EV sales 2.3.25

A bill — H. 3777, coined the "South Carolina Consumer Freedom Act" — to change the state law was filed by Rep. Mark Smith, R-Berkeley. The proposal does not name a specific company, so it would impact other carmakers — not just Scout Motors.

And, so far, the bipartisan proposal has six cosponsors.

It's not the first time a carmaker has tried to OK direct EV sales.

Tesla tried several years ago, but it didn't have the bonus of building a massive plant in the Midlands (where the governor hails from), so the legislation never really took off.

McMaster said he's spoken to the S.C. Automobile Dealers Association, a powerful lobby in the state that says it represents some 281 franchised car dealers, resulting in more than $15 billion in sales and more than 33,000 jobs.

Its website directs readers to a "Direct Sales & EVs: Myths & Facts" page, which argues, in part, that direct sales would "reduce competition and potentially raise prices."

We asked McMaster directly: Would you sign the bill for direct EV sales if it crossed your desk?

"Yes, I would," he said.

S.C. Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, takes a photo of state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, sitting in a Scout Motors vehicle on Nov. 15, 2024, in Columbia, S.C.
MAAYAN SCHECHTER
S.C. Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, takes a photo of state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, sitting in a Scout Motors vehicle on Nov. 15, 2024, in Columbia, S.C.

Trump's trade war raises questions for SC

States likely blew a collective sigh of relief on Monday when President Donald Trump said he struck an agreement to pause 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for at least a month.

That came after both countries agreed to increase border security with the U.S.

It was reported the U.S. also agreed to stop the movement of illegal guns into Mexico.

In states like South Carolina, where manufacturing and farming are vital sectors, leaders weren't quite sure how the impending trade war could affect their work and weren't willing to go on record about what tariffs could mean for the state.

And, still into late Monday, there's still a whole lot of what ifs.

Fast export facts, via the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative:

  • South Carolina exported $37.3 billion of goods in 2023, and, in 2021, exports supported an estimated 116,000 jobs.
  • South Carolina was the 17th largest state exporter in 2023.
  • Manufactured exported products from South Carolina accounted for $36.4 billion in 2023.
  • South Carolina's largest manufacturing export is transportation equipment of about $19.4 billion in 2023.
  • Top manufacturing exports in South Carolina include chemicals, plastics and rubber products, also machinery and electrical equipment and components.
  • South Carolina's largest market was Germany, accounting for about $4.7 billion in goods exported in 2023. Germany was followed by Canada, China, Mexico and Belgium.

McMaster said Monday he's supportive of Trump's trade moves, telling reporters there is no anxiety. He also said he was not aware of whether South Carolina planned or had asked for an exception to the tariffs, similar to an effort by Iowa's Chuck Grassley.

Listen to what he said below:

Gov. McMaster sounds off on tariffs 2.3.25

A sticker supporting President Donald Trump is displayed on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Seth Wenig/AP
/
AP
A sticker supporting President Donald Trump is displayed on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Daily planner 2/4

SC House

SC Senate

GAVIN JACKSON

Freshman spotlight: Tiny mic edition

There are 32 new lawmakers in the General Assembly.

The House chamber includes 19 new faces. The Senate has 13.

It's time you to get to know them, so welcome to our freshman spotlight where we introduce every day a new member of their respective chamber. (We edit for clarity.)

Next up: State Rep. Blake Sanders, who represents House District 9 in Anderson County.

What spot/restaurant in your district would you recommend to visitors: I always recommend anywhere local, if at all possible. I love our local coffee shops, and in the Town of West Pelzer where I served as mayor for two terms, I would recommend Cotton Duck Cafe.

What has surprised you the most about the Statehouse: How helpful everyone actually is, whether it's staff, whether it's other elected officials. Regardless of party or caucus, everyone has been extremely helpful.

How does it feel to probably have the coolest mustache in the Legislature: I know that there's a lot of mustache envy amongst my colleagues. I've had it for 12 years, and I originally grew it as a joke. And 12 years later, I'm known as the guy with the mustache.

What is the last TV show you watched: Seinfeld. I love good humor and I love humor about nothing.

Clemson Tigers or USC Gamecocks: My blood runneth orange. Go Tigers!

S.C. Rep. Blake Sanders, R-Anderson
S.C. Rep. Blake Sanders, R-Anderson

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Maayan Schechter
Maayan Schechter (My-yahn Schek-ter) is a news reporter with South Carolina Public Radio and ETV. She worked at South Carolina newspapers for a decade, previously working as a reporter and then editor of The State’s S.C. State House and politics team, and as a reporter at the Aiken Standard and the Greenville News. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville in 2013.
See stories by Maayan Schechter
Gavin Jackson
Gavin Jackson graduated with a visual journalism degree from Kent State University in 2008 and has been in the news industry ever since. He has worked at newspapers in Ohio, Louisiana and most recently in South Carolina at the Florence Morning News and Charleston Post and Courier.
See stories by Gavin Jackson
Russ McKinney
Russ McKinney has 30 years of experience in radio news and public affairs. He is a former broadcast news reporter in Spartanburg, Columbia and Atlanta. He served as Press Secretary to former S.C. Governor Dick Riley for two terms, and for 20 years was the chief public affairs officer for the University of South Carolina.
See stories by Russ McKinney