SC News

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: Gov pick to lead environmental agency praised, hands-free bill in House

South Carolina Public Radio | By Maayan Schechter,

Russ McKinney, Gavin Jackson

Published April 9, 2025 at 6:01 AM EDT

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.

Welcome to Wednesday.

The Senate is off the floor this week to give the Senate Finance Committee time to work on the $14.5 billion state spending plan.

And the House is on the floor for what leaders have dubbed "law and order" week.

You're reading The State House Gavel, a daily reporter notebook by reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter that previews and captures what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse this year while lawmakers are in session.

Notebook highlights:

Myra Reece, Gov. Henry McMaster's choice to lead the Department of Environmental Services, appeared for her first confirmation hearing to lead the new agency.
Senators try to revive hate crimes legislation.
The House is expected to debate a hands-free driving bill before heading out of town for a week.

Russ McKinney, Maayan Schechter and Gavin Jackson

GOP senators put Reece on path for confirmation

The confirmation of Myra Reece, Gov. McMaster's nominee for director of the Department of Environmental Services, appears to have gotten off to a good start in the Senate.

Reece, currently the interim DES director who worked 30-plus years at the former Department of Health and Environmental Control, testified at her first confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

"I think you will be a good leader for the department," said Sen. Tom Corbin, R-Greenville.

"She has very strong support in Aiken County," said Aiken Republican Sen. Tom Young, noting Reece's Johnston roots.

The hearing for McMaster's appointee was a complete 180 from last week, when the Senate Medical Affairs Committee failed to advance the governor's choice to lead the public health department, Dr. Edward Simmer.

Simmer, confirmed to run DHEC in 2021, faced continuous criticism over his leadership of the department during the COVID pandemic.

Reece has received opposition over a beachfront development decision by the agency.

McMaster defended Reece to reporters Monday, saying he highly respects her.

Protecting South Carolina’s natural, cultural, and historic treasures goes hand in hand with economic development success, job creation, and personal prosperity. Myra Reece understands this — she is a leader and a remarkable public servant. She has earned the respect and support… https://t.co/OKBRFj0ezO
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) April 7, 2025

That sentiment was expressed by other senators Tuesday.

Reece’s confirmation hearing is expected to continue next week.

But for now, in addition to the 15 letters of recommendation for Reece's confirmation sent by leaders in business, industry, farming and conservation, the Clemson University graduate's bid appears set to sail through the upper chamber.

"There is a reason for them sending that letter," Young said. "She has a track record of being responsive, of listening, of being prompt, of following up, ... (and) she has an ability to work to find solutions."

Myra Reece, Gov. Henry McMaster's choice to lead the new state Department of Environmental Services, goes before the S.C. Senate Agriculture and National Resources Committee for her first confirmation hearing on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Columbia, S.C.

Senators again try for hate crimes bill

A Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday gave the first nod to a proposal that would enhance penalties for someone who intentionally commits a violent crime or assault by mob due to the belief or perception of a victim's race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin or physical or mental disability.

After conviction, that person would be subject to an additional fine of no more than $10,000 and an added prison term up to five years.

The bill — S. 99, filed by Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Colleton — unlike previous iterations, doesn't explicitly call the legislation a hate crimes bill. But its language closely matches other legislation that passed out of the House but failed to advance out of the Senate.

Matthews told the panel the bill clarifies some of the language in previous legislation, namely that there has to be a finding by the court before an additional fine and prison sentence is tacked on.

With one change — the subcommittee removed a provision so that the bill defines "sex" as what's already in state code — the bill advanced by voice vote to the full Judiciary Committee.

Look ahead: In June, South Carolina will observe the 10-year anniversary of the racist 2015 mass shooting of nine Black parishioners during a Bible study at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. One of the victims was the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, whose seat is now held by Matthews.

Two years ago, two victims — Polly Sheppard and Felicia Sanders — testified for the first time in front of a Senate panel, urging the chamber to push a hate crimes bill forward so it could become law.

South Carolina is one of two states without a hate crimes law.

South Carolina Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, talks to a fellow senator on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

SC set to debate hands-free bill

South Carolina already bans texting while driving.

But for nearly a decade, Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, has been the most vocal advocate of a full "hands-free" bill that would ban holding a phone for any reason while driving a car.

On Wednesday, a ban bill is finally set to get a floor debate.

The House is slated to take up the so-called "South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act" — H. 3276 — authored this year by Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York.

"The Hands-Free bills have had many committee hearings over the years, but this is the first time one has made it to the House floor," Taylor wrote in his newsletter. "Likely, the threat from the federal government to withhold millions of dollars in highway funding if we don’t pass a hands-free law was a partial impetus."

What does the bill do?

The bill prohibits motorists from holding a phone while driving, whether that's making a call or texting (already illegal in South Carolina) or watching a video.
The ban would not apply to first responders dealing with an emergency, a driver who reports an accident or emergency, using navigation or listening to audio-based content.
Someone could still use an earpiece, or a wrist device or voice-to-text to make a call.