Dear Friends:

America has enemies, and the responsibility to protect the homeland doesn’t fall solely on the federal government. States must do their part, and the SC House of Representatives did its part this week.

SC Takes a Stand: Blocking Foreign Adversaries from Agricultural Lands

In a bold move to safeguard our state’s agricultural resources and further safeguard our military installations and electric grid, the House unanimously passed a groundbreaking bill to keep foreign adversaries at bay. I have championed this legislation (H.3408) that prohibits companies wholly or partially owned by federally designated foreign adversaries from owning, leasing, or controlling any agricultural land within SC.

As concerns around national security and economic independence grow, this bill sends a strong message: South Carolina is taking a proactive stance against potential threats. Protecting local farms and resources is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the state’s agricultural sector.

As the bill moves to the Senate, eyes are on Senators to see if they will uphold this commitment to protect local interests and national security.

In a time when global tensions are rising, SC is stepping up, making it clear that it won’t back down in the face of foreign adversaries. The stakes are high, and the outcome could reshape the landscape of agricultural ownership in the state.

Charter School Reform Moves Forward

In 2019, I co-chaired the House Committee focused on reforming our state’s charter schools. The law had not been comprehensively updated since 1996, when charter schools were first authorized in SC.

We held numerous hearings and probed deeply into how to improve charter school authorizers, the entities charged with approving and overseeing charter schools. We crafted legislation, but the Covid pandemic sidetracked legislative progress. Fast forward to 2026, and reform is nearing the finish line.

In a significant step towards enhancing the SC’s charter school system, the House unanimously passed S.454, known as the Charter School Accountability Bill, this week, following revisions to the Senate’s original proposal. This legislation aims to modernize state laws in response to the rapid growth of charter schools, which now number 112.

However, the expansion has not come without challenges. Recent management issues have plagued several charter schools, as highlighted by the closure of a higher-education authorizer, leaving 16 institutions in turmoil. Unfortunately, the problems extend beyond one authorizer, as we have recently seen with Ascent Charter School. That school is facing severe governance issues, prompting an investigation by the Inspector General.

The revisions made by the House focus on increasing transparency and accountability for both charter schools and their authorizers. Key provisions include mandatory, timely board elections, online posting of financial registers, and comprehensive background checks for staff interacting with students. Authorizers will also face stricter regulations, including prohibitions on profit-sharing and direct oversight of contracted services.

Additionally, the State Department of Education will gain enhanced oversight capabilities, including developing a complaint process and issuing annual performance reports for authorizers. The Department will also be able to approve new authorizers and revoke the powers of authorizers who fail to perform.

This reform is a pivotal step toward ensuring quality education within SC’s charter system.

“Hemp Headaches”

I chuckled when I spotted this headline on an SC news site: “Hemp Headaches.” It was a fairly apt description of Wednesday’s House debate.

The focal point of H.3924 was banning hemp products from being sold to anyone under 21. As one news report stated, “The hemp-derived THC consumable regulation debate might be the messiest sausage-making process so far in this legislative session.”

For hours, we debated the changes the Senate made to the legislation that had passed the House months ago. It was difficult to find a clear majority consensus — whether between Republicans or Democrats, or within the House GOP Caucus. It is a complex issue dealing with keeping younger people safe versus limiting businesses from selling dangerous THC products to teenagers at convenience stores or vape shops.

The Senate version of the bill allows retailers with beer and wine and hemp licenses to sell up to 5 milligrams of single-can 12-ounce THC drinks, which would be kept behind the counter and require any beverage over that milligram amount to be sold at licensed liquor stores. It also requires that gummies with up to 40 milligrams of THC per package be only sold at liquor stores.

In short, the House bill bans the products outright and also bans their possession and use by anyone under 21. CBD products could continue to be sold, however, so long as they are not intoxicating or cause psychoactive reactions when consumed.

Most certainly, the House bill passed this week won’t be the final outcome of the bill. One legislative leader told reporters that we weren’t making law, but the vote postured the House to go to a House-Senate conference committee, where the much-needed bill will likely find middle ground, and we can identify an acceptable regulatory structure.

LEGISLATIVE BRIEFS

Too Many Elections!

SC has more than 200 election days a year. That’s a lot! In addition to the general and primary elections, including runoffs, there are multiple local elections at the county, city, and town levels. The House passed legislation (H.3556) that consolidates elections, requiring municipal general elections to be held in odd-numbered years on designated dates in April or November, with some exceptions. To further streamline elections, small towns with populations under 10,000 would eliminate their Election Commissions, and each County Election Board would conduct and certify election results. As a cosponsor, I strongly support this bill.

Safe Schools Act

The House took a critical step to make our schools safer for students across the state. We passed the Safe Schools Act (H.5201), which ensures every school has a real, actionable safety plan, backed by coordination, training, and accountability, moving us from reactive responses to a proactive, statewide system designed to better protect students and educators. While many schools already have plans in place, not all are consistent or fully implemented.

Guarantee Banking Act

The House unanimously passed the Guarantee Banking Act (H.5538) to ensure fair and equal access to banking services. This legislation follows federal action, including a Presidential directive from President Trump, to guarantee fair banking for all Americans, amid growing concerns and documented cases of financial institutions denying services to customers based on political or ideological beliefs. Here in SC, we took that directive seriously, examined the issue, and acted. This bill ensures banks make decisions based on financial risk, not personal viewpoints, protecting individuals and businesses from discrimination.

Senate Passes State Budget

After three days of heated discussions, the Senate adopted a spending plan for the next fiscal year, marking another significant step in the state’s budgeting process. Senate budget chief, Sen. Harvey Peeler, expressed satisfaction with the process.

The budget includes key policy changes and addresses over 70 proposed amendments, sparking passionate debates on issues such as pay raises, school safety, and liquor liability insurance. While some amendments faced defeat, others, like farmer relief amid the Iran conflict, passed with little controversy.

Notably, culture war topics like abortion bans were debated but did not result in successful provisions. Senators also suspended the liquor liability requirement for a year and raised lawmaker salaries by $18,000. The budget returns to the House, where a second version will be adopted, setting up the annual House-Senate budget conference committee.

Senate Abortion Ban

A controversial abortion ban that could imprison women for two years advanced to the Senate floor this week, despite opposition. The Senate Medical Affairs Committee passed the Unborn Child Protection Act (S.323) by a vote of 8-4 along party lines, with Republican Sen. Tom Davis voting against it, while pledging to prevent its passage. He criticized the bill as “offensive to women” and out of touch with South Carolinians. This draconian bill has no exceptions for rape, incest, or severe fetal anomalies. It’s doubtful it will be debated in the Senate, but if it somehow passes, I predict it will be D.O.A. in the House. I’m solidly a pro-life legislator, but this bill goes too far.

Erasing Eviction Records

Headed to the Senate after passing the House this week is pending legislation to remove past evictions or actions seeking evictions of tenants. The bill (H.4270) would require all eviction cases five years or older to be purged from public view.

Illegal Balloon Releases

Also headed to the Senate for its deliberations is H.3047, legislation covering illegal balloon releases. Adults intentionally releasing, organizing the release of, or intentionally causing the release of balloons – who then fail to retrieve them – could be considered dumping litter on private or public property. Violators would face civil citations of $50, community service hours picking up litter, or other work.

Federal Court Green Lights 10 Commandments

After I wrote that headline, it struck me that God’s Ten Commandments don’t need the approval of human Judges, but in this case, it might be helpful.

This week, a federal appeals court upheld a Texas law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, ruling the mandate constitutional. This is a major victory for religious freedom advocates who have long argued that the biblical text is intertwined with America’s legal, moral, and historical heritage.

Hopefully, this ruling will encourage SC Senators to move forward with the legislation (H.4762) that passed by the House in February. It requires all SC public school classrooms, including those at state colleges, to display the Ten Commandments along with a contextual statement explaining their historical significance in public education.

As one of the many sponsors of this bill, I believe it reinforces the moral foundations of the nation and highlights the historical role the Ten Commandments played in shaping American law and government. Remember, America was born in the pulpit.

Looking Ahead…

SCDOT REFORM LEGISLATION

Next week, the House will debate legislation to overhaul and streamline the SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT), making it nimbler and better able to fix our roads and bridges more swiftly.

I’ll have more details after the debate next Wednesday (and nothing is certain until the vote is finalized), but here are some of the key items that will likely be in the legislation:

• The bill will be amended to streamline SCDOT by eliminating the commission and appointing the SCDOT Secretary by the Governor with the Senate’s approval.
• The bill transfers environmental engineering responsibilities from federal oversight to state control, shortening the review timeline from 20 years to 3 years.
• It authorizes new choice/express lanes built by private companies at their expense with state oversight. Existing lanes cannot be converted — only new lanes. These choice/express lanes are similar to those around major urban areas in other states, such as Charlotte and Atlanta. NO TAXPAYER MONEY WOULD BE USED!
• Language in the original bill that allowed cities and counties to assume state roads and levy local options (one-cent sales tax or millage increases) generated public concern. That provision has been removed.

Much more next week as the House debates and votes on the final version of its SCDOT reform bill.

Local Spotlight

SC Teacher of the Year

A teacher at Aiken County’s Career and Technology Center has been named the 2027 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver made the announcement Thursday.

Dr. Christie Palladino leads the biomedical science program at Aiken County’s Career and Technology Center.

As part of the award, Palladino will receive $25,000, a new BMW to use for one year, and professional development opportunities statewide and nationally.

“A gifted physician and researcher, Dr. Christie Palladino chose to change careers to invest her experience and talents in South Carolina students, shaping both their academic success and their sense of purpose,” Superintendent Weaver said in a statement.

“Her compassion and commitment are preparing the next generation of medical professionals and ensuring her students graduate ready for college or careers, with the confidence that what they learn today opens doors for tomorrow.”

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

The Aiken Legislative Delegation proudly recognized local excellence this week, honoring the North Augusta High School “Yellow Jackets” for capturing both the boys and girls 4A SC State Basketball Championships.

The boys’ title marks a historic first for the program, while the girls’ team continues a remarkable run—securing seven state championships over the past 11 years.

Much of that sustained success is credited to longtime coach Al Young, who has built one of South Carolina’s most dominant high school programs. After a professional football career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Coach Young dedicated nearly five decades to education and coaching, including the past 11 years leading the girls’ basketball program at North Augusta.

As Coach Young announces his retirement, we extend our deepest appreciation for his extraordinary impact on generations of student-athletes and wish him continued health and happiness in the years ahead.