Welcome to Wednesday.
The House is out this week, and the Senate gavels in at 1 p.m.
Gov. Henry McMaster is in Atlanta on Wednesday for The Battery Show South to talk all things electric vehicles and manufacturing investment in South Carolina.
He told SC Public Radio Tuesday that there "is a place" for electric vehicles.
"I don't think it's going to replace the gas engine. We're not pushing one or the other. We're just pushing manufacturing in our state," McMaster added, saying in Atlanta he'll try and learn something and "maybe provide a little insight (on) how we do things in South Carolina, because it's working here."
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:
- Inching closer to sine die, the Senate amended the House's liquor liability bill that the chamber's Republican leader says puts the chances of tort reform in a better posture to advance.
- The nomination of Myra Reece, the governor's pick to lead the new Department of Environmental Services, advanced to the Senate floor.
- Our tiny mic series returns! Get to know a little bit about the South Carolina House's *newest* freshman.
Senate readies tort battle when House returns
Senate GOP Leader Shane Massey told reporters there's been conversations with the House over tort reform legislation, but, so far, there's no agreement.
The Senate on Tuesday struck through the House's liquor liability bill, and instead inserted identical language to S. 244, the Senate's expansive tort reform legislation that impacts victims, bars and restaurants, auto insurance, manufacturers and hospitals, to name a few.
The bill needs one more perfunctory vote Wednesday, but is expected to head back over to the House, which can choose to accept the Senate's changes — an unlikely scenario — or punt it to the negotiation table between six lawmakers, three from each chamber.
"We wanted to keep the vehicle alive in order to keep the possibility of an agreement," Massey, R-Edgefield, told reporters. "We're just trying to keep the ball moving right now."
You can listen to more of that interview with Massey below:
Coming up Wednesday?
The Senate is expected to take up S. 62, the so-called "Education Scholarship Trust Fund," that is the Legislature's second go at paying for K-12 private school tuition vouchers after the state Supreme Court ruled the first iteration unconstitutional because it paid for the program using taxpayer dollars.
Bill background: After the high court's decision, the Senate passed a bill that would pay for the vouchers, or scholarships, using state lottery funds. The House amended that proposal, instead reverting back to tax dollars. The House also installed a trustee to oversee the program, in addition to tweaks of the poverty level thresholds.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Greg Hembree, R-Horry, is expected to propose an amendment that may be agreeable to the House — an agreement that could quicken the bill's speed to the governor's desk and then to the Supreme Court for a second time after a widely expected court challenge.
What about the weeks ahead?
Barring Supreme Court intervention, the Senate will hold a hearing Monday into Treasurer Curtis Loftis's handling of the $1.8 billion accounting error and other matters that could end with a vote to remove him from office. Loftis has asked that the court block the hearing to weigh whether the Senate process is constitutional.
And the House returns next week as the Senate begins its full debate over the $14 billion general fund state budget.
Gov pick to lead environmental agency advances
Gov. Henry McMaster's nominee Myra Reece appears to be on her way to receiving Senate confirmation to become the director of the state’s new Department of Environmental Services.
The department's current interim director, Reece has served for years as the environmental director at what was the state Department of Health and Environmental Control prior to the creation of the new Cabinet office.
Rock Hill Republican Sen. Wes Climer, who chairs the Senate's Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, was the sole "no" vote on Reece's confirmation Tuesday as the committee advanced her nomination to the full Senate.
Climer pressed Reece on private property rights, climate impacts and regulations.
Reece has been criticized over a beachfront development decision by the agency. In part, the criticism has come from a wealthy Isle of Palms property owner Rom Reddy, who was fined by DHEC as part of a years-long battle over a seawall he constructed on his beachfront property in violation of state law.
Here's Climer below speaking to reporters:
Climer, however, says he expects Reece to be confirmed by the full Senate.
Reece's confirmation would be a win for McMaster, whose nominee to run the Department of Public Health, Dr. Edward Simmer, failed to advance out of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee.
"She is qualified," McMaster told SC Public Radio Tuesday of Reece, adding South Carolina is "lucky to have her" and lucky she is willing to take the job.
Statehouse clips:
- Post and Courier: SC Gov. McMaster's environmental czar survives millionaire opposition, climate change doubts
- The State: Tension over climate change dominates SC environmental nomination hearing
Freshman spotlight: Tiny mic spotlight
Now 33 new lawmakers have joined the Legislature this year.
Twenty of them are in the House, with one district vacancy.
The Senate has 13.
Welcome back to our freshman spotlight: tiny mic edition, where we introduce a new member of their respective chamber. (We edit for length and clarity.)
Next up: State Rep. Courtney Waters, a Democrat who represents House District 113, which includes parts of the city of North Charleston, the town of Lincolnville and areas of Ladson. Waters was elected in a special election in March.
What has surprised you so far about the Statehouse: I wasn't totally new to the Statehouse. But what I have been surprised by is really how much you need to do in the evening to get ready for the next day. I don't know that I realized how many bills in one day were being taken up. You sort of always get the green light when the controversial issues come up, and you know that one thing that you're leaning in on. But there are numerous other things that may not be your priority but are really important to hundreds, thousands of South Carolinians every day. And you really got to be up to speed on what's happening.
What is your go-to snack: I bring nuts and fruit.
What was your first concert: I think it was called The Millennium Tour ... in middle school. It was B2K, Lil Bow Wow, Lil Romeo, those type of folks. And it was a blast.
Who is the top artist you listen to: Right now if you open up my playlist, GNX by Kendrick Lamar is playing on repeat.
Favorite movie, or favorite actor/actress: I love Don Cheadle. I do re-watch Love Jones and Waiting to Exhale all the time. Don't judge me. Very toxic movies. But just 90s classics, 90s Black cinema classics.
What team are you rooting for: I'm a Detroit Lions girl. I don't watch a lot of college sports except USC women's basketball, because they're just amazing and Dawn Staley.
Daily planner (4/16)
SC Senate
- 9 a.m. — Gressette 105 — Senate Transportation Subcommittee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9 a.m. — Gressette 209 — Judiciary Subcommittee on S.105, S.245, H.3007, H.3008 and H.3558
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9:30 a.m. — Gressette 308 — Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 9:30 a.m. — Gressette 307 — Labor, Commerce and Industry Regulatory and Local Government Subcommittee
Agenda Available - 9:30 a.m. — Gressette 207 — Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
Agenda Available - 10 a.m. — Gressette 209 — Banking and Insurance Committee on S.196, S.325 and H.3259
Agenda Available - 11 a.m. — Gressette 105 — Senate Finance Special Subcommittee on S.344
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 11 a.m. — Gressette Room 308 — Senate Transportation Committee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Noon — Gressette 209 — Labor, Commerce and Industry Professions and Occupations Subcommittee
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - Noon — Gressette 207 — Legislative Oversight Subcommittee on Department on Aging
Agenda Available
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only - 1 p.m. — Senate in session
Live Broadcast
Live Broadcast - Audio Only
SC governor
- 9:30 a.m. — Gov. Henry McMaster will speak at The Battery Show South and Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo South in Atlanta
- 11 a.m. — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette will speak at the annual Firefighter Memorial Service in Columbia
Clips from around the state
- ICE's growing SC presence threatens to undo trust between police and state's Latino residents (Post and Courier)
- South Carolina boat motors may be getting taxed twice. What’s being done? (The State)
- SC congresswoman says she too was targeted by man accused of threatening to kill Trump (SC Daily Gazette)
- South Carolina Senate debates license plate reader bill guidelines (WLTX)
- Rep. Nancy Mace woos MAGA faithful in vote-rich Greenville. Do they want her? (Post and Courier)
- Beaufort Marine airbase commander out for ‘Loss of trust.’ Next stop: Parris Island (The Island Packet)
- SC Attorney General, state leaders observe 14th annual Children’s Advocacy Center Day (WIS)
- DOGE slashed humanities funding. What’s getting cut in South Carolina? (The State)
- Tariffs won't bring 'huge migration' of manufacturing to U.S., Williams tells Rotarians (Aiken Standard)
- Law enforcement calls for tougher penalties for K-9 killings (WIS)
- Hundreds waitlisted for SC pre-K despite thousands of open seats, report finds (SC Daily Gazette)
- US HUD Sec. Scott Turner praises Charleston's approach to homelessness on tour with Sen. Tim Scott (Post and Courier)
- Tax Day is still weeks away for SC taxpayers (SC Daily Gazette)
- Some SC schools perform well academically despite poverty barriers. Lawmakers want to know why. (WLTX)
