legislation

Federal health organizations have identified at least 80 toxic chemicals in surgical smoke created by electrical cautery devices in operating rooms. There are 22 states that have passed laws to evacuate smoke. South Carolina is not among them.

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.