Moving at Trump Speed

Just like big corporations, legislative bodies have a rhythm and cadence. It’s part of the culture built up over years and decades. This session has brought change.

The South Carolina State House cadence has increased immensely since the session began in mid-January. I label it “Trump Speed!” And that’s a good thing. We’re tackling challenging issues and passing priority legislation.

This week, the House tackled the soaring costs of insurance so SC’s hospitality industry can survive and thrive. We also advocated for small businesses with legislation to cut red tape, so they are not burdened by government over-meddling.

Providing Insurance Relief for Small Businesses

For two years, I have heard from small businesses that they have been held hostage by skyrocketing insurance costs. Restaurants, bars, and even VFW halls have closed because they can’t afford insurance premiums.

While each type of restaurant is affected differently, here is just one example of an Aiken restaurant/bar. In 2017, it spent about $42,000 on liquor liability insurance; the owner tells me he paid more than $134,000 last year!

Relief came Thursday when the House unanimously passed the Liquor Liability Bill (H.3497). This bill directly responds to what we’ve heard from business owners across South Carolina—that something must be done.

The legislation ends “joint and several” liability, so responsible bars and restaurants aren’t unfairly sued. It delivers real relief while maintaining accountability in alcohol service.

This bill is a key part of the House GOP Caucus’ Pillars for Progress agenda, which aims to tackle the soaring costs of insurance and increase competition so businesses can survive and thrive.

Senate Tort Reform

While the House passed a critical tort reform bill, the Senate is locked in debate over more expansive tort reform.

We have all been bombarded by TV commercials, text messages, and emails from the two sides tugging at the Senate bill: trial lawyers who oppose it and small businesses who favor it. At issue is the current law, which allows companies to be forced to cover 100% of the damage in a lawsuit, even if they are only 1% at fault.

On Wednesday, hundreds of people packed the State House lobby to show their support for a sweeping lawsuit reform package that has dramatic implications for SC’s legal and business communities. Gov. McMaster spoke in support of the legislation.

On Thursday, the Senate session abruptly ended after senators refused to kill an amendment that the tort reform bill’s lead sponsor, Senate GOP Leader Shane Massey, says would gut the bill. The bill hangs in the balance.

Proponents believe tort reform would lower insurance rates. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring for years, and 2024 was no different. Insurify reported this week that car insurance premiums in SC climbed 29% last year, with SC drivers now shelling out an average of $3,393 annually for full coverage.

Bonus Reading: Palmetto Promise, a policy think tank in Columbia, estimates that every SC household pays a hidden $3,181 annually due to excessive litigation and skyrocketing insurance costs. If you want a thorough briefing on tort reform and the debated issue, read Palmetto Promises’ new research report, a Sandlapper Shakedown.

Tort Reform Moving in GA

Like SC, Georgia is facing similar tort reform issues. Gov. Brian Kemp’s call for reforms to the state’s tort laws is advancing during the current legislative session. The Georgia Senate has approved both bills limiting owners’ liability for injuries on their property and restricting damages awarded for medical bills and payment to plaintiffs. Proponents say that the passage of these bills will make Georgia courts focus on justice, not jackpots.

Cutting Red Tape and Ending Overregulation

Government overreach hurts small businesses, limits job creation, and slows our economy. That’s why the House took a significant step forward this week by passing the Regulatory Freedom Act (H.3021) — which puts citizens and businesses, not unelected bureaucrats, back in charge.

South Carolina should be a national leader in business-friendly policies, not a state where excessive regulations stifle growth. The House Republican Caucus promised to tackle red tape, and this week, we delivered.

In support of the Regulatory Freedom Act, Americans for Prosperity stated, “Our government has a role in creating fair and equally applied rules that foster an opportunity-rich environment for all people while protecting against significant public harm. However, that role should be limited, and those responsible for developing and enforcing those rules should be held accountable. Elected lawmakers must reassert their proper role in developing and finalizing laws that include clear and unambiguous guidance for enforcement.”

The Americans for Prosperity added, “The Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act will give legislators an opportunity to analyze and potentially stop regulations which would be overly burdensome. Under the bill, any rule with an economic impact that is greater than or equal to $1 million over any 5-year period would trigger this legislative process.”

SC has over 136,000 restrictions on books, amounting to more than 5 million words. This legislation is a significant step in ensuring that future rules are necessary and that our regulatory code doesn’t grow out of control. 

Corralling the Federal Government

President Trump can’t completely tame Washington. He needs the help of the states. After all, the sovereign states created the federal government and have the Constitutional power to fix it. Look at it this way: President Trump’s DOGE initiative and CoS are running parallel toward empowering the American people to pursue self-governance.

This week, the SC House of Representatives used a gift from our Founding Fathers — Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It provides a mechanism for states to come together to agree to propose LIMITS on Washington. A Convention of States (CoS) would propose amendments to the Constitution that must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Federal Balanced Budget: The House approved two resolutions. The first (H.3007) calls for SC to join a CoS limited to creating a balanced budget amendment (BBA) for Congress. The BBA Article V has been in process for decades. Currently, 30 states have approved participation. Supporters claim the BBA Convention should have been called in 1979 when 39 applications had been presented to Congress. Since then, some applications have expired or been rescinded. 34 states are needed to call a convention.

Term Limits: The House’s second resolution (H.3008) allows SC to participate in a convention to create a constitutional amendment proposing term limits for Congress—a very popular idea. Ten state legislatures have passed the U.S. Term Limits single-subject application for congressional term limits.

Faithful Delegates: Additionally, we passed my legislation (H.3558), the Faithful Delegate Act. It is imperative that the legislature establish rules for selecting SC’s Commissioners to any Article V Amending Convention and provide restrictions and legal consequences for any Commissioner who might go rogue. It passed on a party-line vote, with my Democrat colleagues (and a few Republicans) seemingly objecting to help fix Washington.

National CoS Update

In 2022, SC became the 19^th state to pass the CoS legislation, which was broader than just the call for a BBA or term limits. It would propose amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction, and impose term limits on its officials and members of Congress. I filed the CoS Resolution in 2013. It took SC nine years to win passage, thanks to more than fifty thousand citizens who supported it and a leadership team that educated legislators.

Regrettably, SC remains the last state to pass that CoS initiative, but many states are taking action to turbocharge it. In recent weeks, the Kansas Senate approved the CoS Resolution. Legislative action is pending in Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming, where House committees recently approved the legislation. Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Washington have pending CoS legislation. Texas’ CoS legislation passed in 2017 expires this year, and they are working to renew it.

Cracking Down on Organized Retail Crime

Smash-and-grab thefts and large-scale shoplifting rings aren’t just inconveniences for businesses; they are serious public safety and economic issues. H.3523, a bill the House passed last month, was just approved by the Senate and sent to the governor’s desk to finally crack down on organized retail crime. It makes organized retail theft a felony, ensuring repeat offenders face real consequences. This is about keeping businesses safe, protecting jobs, and ensuring law and order.

Protecting Property Owners from Squatters

Property owners should never have to jump through legal hoops to remove someone illegally occupying their home. That’s why H.3387 was passed out of the Judiciary Committee this week, setting up a House floor debate soon. This bill creates a clear and fair process for removing squatters, allowing homeowners to act quickly instead of being forced into lengthy legal battles. It also allows law enforcement to assist property owners in securing their homes.