legislation

bill to eliminate the state sales tax on feminine hygiene products has passed the South Carolina House. Representatives voted unanimously Wednesday to get rid of the so-called "period tax," exempting the 6% state sales tax and extra local tax from items like tampons, pads and sanitary napkins. The bill now heads to the Senate. Supporters say it is unfair to tax a small group of the population for items they need when other necessities like medicine, food and utilities are not taxed.

It seemed like quite the longshot — a bill to expand gambling in conservative South Carolina sponsored by a Democrat passing the House where Republicans hold a super majority. But Rep. Russell Ott managed to cobble together a rare bipartisan alliance on a bill that would allow betting on horse races on a smartphone app. The 56-46 vote Wednesday was eye-opening in a state long opposed to gambling. Twenty-three years ago South Carolina shut down a nearly $3 billion video poker industry. Ott's bill still has long odds. It now goes to the Senate, where a similar measure has been on the floor since February. And Gov. Henry McMaster has vowed to veto any gambling expansion.

Republican state lawmakers are following up a midterm election and record flow of anti-transgender legislation last year by zeroing in on bodily autonomy with proposals to limit gender-affirming health care and abortion access. More than two dozen bills seeking to restrict transgender health care access have been pre-filed in 11 states. Other bills targeting transgender people are expected in several additional states with GOP majorities.