Copper Dome Chronicle: June 5 2024 Session Day
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Copper Dome Chronicle, sponsored by Advocatus. We strive for substantive writing with brevity, inspired by the book Smart Brevity.
This week’s edition is 660 words or a 2.5 minute read. The 2024 regular session has adjourned pursuant to S.1192. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
SC Election Commission Candidate Filing Tracker
June 5 Session Day Preview
The second regular session of the 125th South Carolina General Assembly adjourned at five o’clock on Thursday, May 9, 2024 pursuant to S.1192 (sine die resolution).
As we’ve opined time and time again, after the budget the second most important annual activity of the General Assembly is the election of judges. On Wednesday, June 5 at 12pm a joint assembly will be held to elect an Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission announced three out of six candidates were found qualified and nominated: The Honorable Blake A. Hewitt (Conway); The Honorable Jocelyn Newman (Columbia); The Honorable Letitia H. Verdin (Greenville).
According to multiple news reports, Judge Newman withdrew from the race on May 28 followed by Judge Hewitt on May 30. This leaves Judge Verdin without opposition; however, an election must still be held. In April a candidate for a Circuit Court seat who was unopposed was not elected, so while there are no signs that Judge Verdin will have any difficulty this week, memories are fresh in the minds of some legislators about recent history.
FY25 Budget Update
The Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) met on May 20 and increased its revenue estimates for FY25. The additional recurring revenue is +$142.6M over the November 2023 estimate and the total new recurring revenue estimate available for appropriation is $815.7M. The additional nonrecurring revenue is +$467.2M over the November 2023 estimate and the total new recurring revenue estimate available for appropriation is $1.3371B.
The budget conference committee on H.5100 (FY25 budget) and H.5101 (capital reserve bill) met on Tuesday, May 28 for a total of four minutes. The committee took one action, which was to adopt any funding lines or provisos that were exactly the same in both versions of the budget. On June 5 at 2pm the committee anticipates debating provisos that are different in each version of the budget. Then on June 12 at 10am, and as long as necessary, the committee will meet to debate funding differences. The goal, stated during the waning days of regular session, was to reconvene the General Assembly on June 18 to vote on the final budget agreement and return on June 25 to consider budget vetoes.
Committee Schedule June 3-7 2024
Some committee meetings that will generate some debate and news. If a live stream link is not provided with a committee meeting that means no live stream is available.
S.142 Conference Committee; June 4 at 11:30am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: The conference committee on S.142 (safe harbor for exploited minors) will meet for the first time. The main difference between the House and Senate versions is that the Senate added the text of S.147 (confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking). S.147 passed the Senate on April 18, 2023 and never received a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.
H.4386 and H.4820 Conference Committees; June 5 at 10am; Agenda
Summary: The conference committees on H.4386 (robust redhorse fish protection) and H.4820 (wild turkeys) will meet for the first time.
H.3728 Conference Committee; June 5 at 10am; Agenda
Summary: The conference committee on H.3728 (Transparency and Integrity in Education Act) will meet for a third time.
S.862 Conference Committee; June 5; 15 minutes upon adjournment of both chambers; Agenda
Summary: The conference committee on S.862 (caregiver requirements in childcare facilities) will meet for the first time.
H.3998 Conference Committee; June 5; 15 minutes upon adjournment of both chambers; Agenda
Summary: The conference committee on H.3988 (pharmacy practice act) will meet for the first time.
S.1031 Conference Committee; June 5 at 1pm; Agenda
Summary: The conference committee on S.1031 (Uniform Money Services Act) will meet for the first time.
H.4087 Conference Committee; June 5 at 1:30pm; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: The conference committee on H.4087 (tax credits omnibus bill) will meet for the first time.
H.4843 Conference Committee; June 5 at 1:30pm; Agenda
Summary: The conference committee on H.4843 (consumption of food & beverage on commercial docks) will meet for the first time.
H.5100 and H.5101 Conference Committee; June 5 at 2pm; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: The budget conference committee on H.5100 (FY25 budget) and H.5101 (capital reserve bill) will meet for the second time. The committee intends to debate provisos that are different between the two versions.
Key Dates
January 9: Session Convenes
January 16: Judicial Merit Selection Commission final report published
January 24: State of the State
February 7: Judicial elections (subject to change)
February 15: Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) February revenue estimate
February 20-22: House Ways & Means Committee budget deliberations
March 6: Election of the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court
March 11-14: House floor budget deliberations
March 16: Candidate filing opens for all House and Senate seats at 12pm
April 1: Candidate filing closes for all House and Senate seats at 12pm
April 1-5: House furlough week
April 9-11: Senate Finance Committee budget deliberations
April 10: Crossover Day
April 17: Judicial Elections
April 23-25: Senate floor budget deliberations
May 9: Session Adjourns
June 5: Election of an Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court
June 11: Nominating Primary Elections
June 18: Budget conference report votes (tentative)
June 25: Nominating Primary Runoff Elections
June 25: Budget vetoes session (tentative)
July 1: Fiscal Year 2024-2025 begins
October 6: Last day to register to vote
October 21: Early voting opens
November 2: Early voting closes
November 5: General Election Day
