SC’s Legislative Session is Out of the Gate with a Fast Start
Dear Friends:
This year’s legislative session wasted no time getting off to a fast start.
On Wednesday, following a lengthy public hearing on Day 1, a House committee passed H.4624, the “Help Not Harm” legislation. It prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender transition procedures to individuals under eighteen, with exceptions for ongoing treatments and certain medical services. The bill also restricts South Carolina Medicaid from covering these procedures for individuals under the age of 26. It bans the use of public funds for gender-affirming care, assigns disciplinary actions to the respective licensing boards, and ensures that our children’s well-being remains a top priority. The bill was sent to the House floor, which will be debated and voted on next week.
The Senate voted Thursday to place a special order on my legislation to take politics out of the state’s pension funds decisions. That means H.3690 will be the Senate’s first order of business next week. The bill protects our state’s pension investments from the woke ideology of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance). The goal is to make the most money for the 650,000 people in the retirement system and not target investing their money in the so-called ‘Green New Deal’ or other progressive agendas. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly (103-5) last Spring.
The House voted unanimously to add xylazine to the list of scheduled III controlled substances (with medical exceptions) and prohibit production, manufacture, distribution, or possession and to create associated criminal penalties. Xylazine. Fentanyl – the deadliest drug in the country – is getting even more dangerous because it is being mixed with xylazine, a powerful tranquilizer that the FDA approves for use by physicians and veterinarians. On the streets, it’s known as “tranq” or “tranq dope”, and it’s been linked to horrific side effects and a growing number of deadly overdoses across the country. The bill (H.4617) heads to the Senate.
The Legislative Agenda
The aggressive agenda demonstrated in Week #1 is building off the successes of last year’s House Republican Caucus agenda that has profoundly impacted our state. Unprecedented conservative victories marked that legislative session. Key legislative wins included:
- Repealing the Certificate of Need law, expanding healthcare options and access with less cost to patients
- Strengthening penalties for fentanyl trafficking.
- Enhancing public safety through bond reform.
- Passing the Fetal Heartbeat Bill.
- Banning Critical Race Theory in education.
- Expanding School Choice with the Education Scholarship Trust Fund and Open Enrollment.
- Upholding Second Amendment rights through the Second Amendment Preservation Act.
We’ve made historic investments in education, teachers, infrastructure, and public services while ensuring fiscal discipline.
Looking Forward: 2024
This week, the Aiken Standard summarized the legislative agenda for some members of the Aiken Legislative Delegation.
They wrote: “The South Carolina General Assembly returned to session Tuesday, and five members of Aiken County’s delegation are planning to work on keeping the state’s economy stable and growing, job creation, regulating xylazine, lowering the state’s tax rate and improving the state’s education system.” (The Aiken Standard: Economy and lowering taxes are top priorities for Aiken County delegation)
Aiken Standard: SC Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, said the chief focus of the General Assembly would be preparing the state budget and determining what to do with $1.5 billion in surplus money.
Taylor said he wanted to see some of the surplus be used to expediate the lowering of the state’s personal income tax rate. He said the General Assembly has lowered the top rate from 7 percent to 6.5 percent, with additional 0.1 percent reductions to take place annually. He added he wanted to see the reduction rate grow. Taylor added the state’s rates are higher than neighboring North Carolina and Georgia.
He said he would be working to get a bill banning environmental and social governance investments from the state’s pension funds. He said the bill has passed the House, and he wanted the bill to pass the Senate and be signed into law as quickly as possible. Taylor added that the priority for pension funds should be making as much money as possible.
Saluting Setzler
Kudos to the Senate’s longest-serving senator, Nikki Setzler, who announced this week that he would not seek a 13th term. He was first elected to the state Senate as a 31-year-old in 1976 after defeating Republican Joe Wilson, now a long-serving Congressman. Setzler is a record holder –the longest-serving state senator in the nation. He has served Aiken County and his home county, Lexington, for almost five decades. As a Democrat, he served as the Senate’s minority leader for eight years and has had many outstanding legislative accomplishments. I have shared with Sen. Setzler much of the House district I serve. I found him to be a dedicated public service. His voice of reason and ability to compromise will be missed.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
A room filled with patriots!
It was my privilege to deliver the keynote remarks to the Aiken County Republican Party Thursday evening.
We are entering an election year that requires all conservative-minded people to GET INVOLVED.
- Put your hands up and volunteer. Monthly GOP Meetings are the last Thursday of each month 6:30pm at Bobbie’s BBQ – 1897 Jefferson Davis Hwy.
- Speak-up and talk with your friends and neighbors about what this election year means to our country.
- Turn around to your “pew mate” in church and make sure they go vote their Christian Values.
Donate to the GOP and the candidates running for election or re-election.
Want to Know More?
Do you want to learn more about my positions, bill sponsorships, voting record, and past writings? Here are some handy links:
- About Me: https://taylorschouse.com/about-2/
- My Positions: https://taylorschouse.com/issues/
- Sponsored Bill & Voting Record: http://tiny.cc/b1pouz
- Recent Newsletters: https://taylorschouse.com/category/newsletter/
I’m Available & AT YOUR SERVICE
It is my honor to be of service. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance navigating state government or have any thoughts or concerns about the legislature.
In Your Service,
Email: Bill@taylorschouse.com
www.TaylorSCHouse.com
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Legal Notice: This newsletter is not a solicitation for contributions to any SC registered lobbyist.