Copper Dome Chronicle: 2024 Session Week 4
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, covering January 30 - February 1, 2024, is 785 words or a 3 minute read. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
Senate Budget Calendar (SFC Debate April 9-11; Floor Debate April 23-25)
Week 4 Preview
The House has 20 bills and 8 concurrent resolutions on its calendar eligible for debate to begin the week. Bills that may generate significant debate include:
H.3424 (age verification for certain websites)
H.4700 (age verification for social media)
H.3608 (real property deeds)
H.4710 (unemployment benefits)
H.4231 (Sunday liquor sales)
H.4364 (curbside/third-party alcohol delivery)
The Senate has 36 bills, one concurrent resolution, and one Senate resolution on its calendar to begin the week. The Senate is expected to continue debate on H.3594 (constitutional carry), which has the status of “Interrupted Debate” on the Senate calendar and will be considered before S.305 (prior work experience on initial teaching certificate), which has the status of Special Order. There are 12 bills without a printed objection:
H.3518 (driver’s licenses)
S.700 (Earned Wage Access Act)
H.4116 (funeral services and practices)
S.577 (income tax rate technical correction)
S.578 (disclosure of DOR documents)
S.620 (electronic tax sales)
S.708 (South Carolina Children's Advocacy Medical Response System)
S.778 (social worker state compact)
S.806 (appropriations act and sine dine)
H.3116 (disabled veterans property tax exemption)
H.3951 (Working Agricultural Lands Preservation Act)
S.621 (South Carolina-Ireland Trade Commission)
Week 3 Review
House floor sessions consumed 3 hours, 42 minutes and passed two bills:
Senate floor sessions consumed 6 hours, 22 minutes and passed two bills:
S.972 (Greenwood District 50 board of trustees)
H.4159 (Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act)
Most of the Senate floor time was used during the debate on H.3594 (constitutional carry).
Committee Schedule Week 4
Some committee meetings that will generate some debate and news.
Senate Medical Affairs Committee; January 31 at 9am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: The committee will consider three bills: S.915 (Executive Office of Health and Policy), S.408 (suicide prevention traning for professional counselors), and S.558 (tuberculosis testing in nursing homes).
Senate Education Subcommittee; January 31 at 10am; Agenda; No Live Stream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.905, a bill amending the Read to Succeed Act. The main purpose of this bill is to embed the science of reading as the primary instructional strategy for literacy. This has been State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver’s top priority since assuming office. The 3rd grade reading benchmark that was a hallmark of the Read to Succeed Act remains in place, though there would be a pause until the 2025-2026 school year in order to provide time and training on the science of reading to schools, if this bill becomes law.
Senate Education Subcommittee; January 31 at 10am; Agenda; No Live Stream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.538 (tenure review process) and S.974 (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges institutions).
Senate Banking and Insurance Committee; January 31 at 11am; Agenda; No Live Stream
Summary: There are four bills and two regulations on the agenda: S.32 (uninsured motorist coverage), S.944 (family leave insurance policies), S.957 (DOI procedures), and S.962 (PSAO fiduciary duties to pharmacies).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee; January 31 at 11:30am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.533 (abolish joint and several liability) and S.844 (civil justice study committee.
Senate Medical Affairs Committee; February 1 at 10am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: The committee will consider three bills: S.915 (Executive Office of Health and Policy), S.408 (suicide prevention traning for professional counselors), and S.558 (tuberculosis testing in nursing homes).
House Ways & Means Budget Subcommittees (10 budget hearings)
Higher Education; January 30, 10:30am; Agenda; Live Stream
Healthcare; January 30, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Constitutional; January 30, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Economic Development; January 30, 30 minutes upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Public Education & Special Schools; January 30, 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Transportation; January 30, 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Criminal Justice; January 31, 9am; Agenda; Live Stream
Public Education & Special Schools; January 31, 9am; Agenda; Live Stream
Healthcare; January 31, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Constitutional; January 31, 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Ad Hoc Committee to Examine the Judicial Selection and Retention Process; January 30, immediately upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: Public comment will be received by the committee.
Ad Hoc Committee to Examine the Judicial Selection and Retention Process; January 31, 4pm; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: Committee discussion meeting.
House Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Cyber Crime; January 31; 9am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: Presentation by Palo Alto Networks.
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 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 10: Crossover Day
April TBD: Senate Finance Committee and Senate floor budget deliberations; BEA April revenue estimate
May 9: Session Adjourns
June 11: Nominating Primary Elections
June 25: Nominating Primary Runoff Elections
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
