Copper Dome Chronicle: 2024 Session Week 8
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 February 27-29, 2024, is 1,030 words or a 4 minute read. Thanks for reading and sharing; we welcome your feedback and commentary!
Resources
Week 8 Preview
The House has six bills and zero resolutions on its calendar eligible for debate to begin the week. The six bills on the calendar are:
H.3989 (Solar, Agricultural, Farmland, and Environmental Act)
H.4927 (Executive Office of Health and Policy)
H.4875 (sale of deer parts)
H.4387 (hybrid striped bass limits)
H.4820 (wild turkey limits)
H.4386 (robust redhorse fish protection)
The Senate has 46 bills, nine joint resolutions, one concurrent resolution, and one Senate resolution on its calendar to begin the week. There are no bills set for Special Order so the Senate is expected to work its calendar. There are 23 bills and joint resolutions without a printed objection:
S.1025 (Aiken County School District)
H.4002 (telecommunications devices in correctional facilities)
S.912 (SC Nexus resolution)
H.3518 (driver’s licenses)
H.3592 (compounding pharmacies)
S.578 (disclosure of DOR documents)
S.1064 (Alzheimer's special care unit code review)
S.235 (wireless device information disclosure to law enforcement)
S.251 (first responders PTSD benefits)
S.755 (personal property title transfers)
S.839 (crime of homicide by child abuse)
S.845 (claims related to the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022)
S.877 (crime of luring a child)
S.881 (Prohibition of Unfair Real Estate Service Agreements Act)
S.947 (crime of kidnapping)
S.954 (electronic communications disclosure to law enforcement)
S.995 (crime of sexual exploitation using a morphed image of a minor)
S.996 (crime of obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse)
S.1005 (Lake Bowen motor restrictions)
S.780 (Super-Kart Act)
S.1090 (license plate regulations)
S.1091 (automobile liability self-insured entity regulations)
H.3355 (fifth wheel assembly towing requirements)
Week 7 Review
The House held no floor sessions.
Senate floor sessions consumed 8 hours, 43 minutes and passed 11 bills:
S.298 (combined corporate income tax returns)
S.418 (Read to Succeed bill with new Senate amendments)
S.862 (caregiver requirements in childcare facilities)
S.903 (flounder catch limit sunset clause)
S.915 (Executive Office of Health and Policy)
S.944 (family leave insurance)
S.946 (Committee on the Regulation of Childcare Facilities membership)
S.974 (accrediting institutions)
S.1001 (prison industries)
H.3866 (Attorney General duties)
H.4868 (Florence School District 3)
The House Ways & Means Committee adopted its version of the FY 2024-2025 General Appropriations Bill and Capital Reserve Fund Bill. Read the Advocatus USA recap of the budget, or visit the committee website for the summary control documents and proviso decisions.
Committee Schedule Week 8
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.
Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees (5 budget hearings)
Higher Education; February 27 at 10am; Agenda
K-12 Education; February 28 at 9am; Agenda
Higher Education; February 29 at 10am; Agenda
K-12 Education; February 29 at 10am; Agenda
Constitutional; February 29 upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee; February 27 at 10:30am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are 16 Senate bills on the agenda and all are related to the selection of judges.
Senate Judiciary Committee; February 27 at 2:30pm; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: S.99 (selection of judges). This will be the vehicle to debate changes to the selection of judges.
Senate Finance Committee; February 27 at 2:30pm; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are 11 bills on the agenda including H.4720 (continuing resolution).
Senate Education Committee; February 28 at 10am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: S.993 (name, image, likeness); H.4957 (name, image, likeness); H.3309 (Seizure Safe Schools Act); H.3295 (competency-based education); S.1047 (Denmark Technical College Area Commission).
Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee; February 28 at 10am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are three bills on the agenda: S.868 (WHO resolution); S.965 (COVID-19 vaccination mandates); S.975 (vaccine or gene therapy mandates).
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee; February 28 at 11:30am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are three Senate bills on the agenda related to civil justice reform: S.533 (abolish joint and several liability); S.844 (civil justice study committee); S.1048 (alcohol liability).
Senate Medical Affairs Committee; February 29 at 10am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: S.994 (electronic nicotine delivery devices) and H.4624 (prohibit gender transition procedures).
House Liquor Liability Insurance Ad Hoc Committee; February 27 at 10am; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There is one bill on the agenda: H.5066 (affordable liquor liability insurance fund).
House LCI Public Utilities Subcommittee; February 27 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda
Summary: There are two bills on the agenda: H.5118 (comprehensive energy bill) and H.5120 (resolution urging federal permitting reform). This is the comprehensive energy bill that is a top priority for House Speaker Smith.
House Judiciary Committee; February 27 at 2:30pm or 30 minutes upon adjournment whichever is later; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are five bills on the agenda: H.3676 (Convention of the States); H.4589 (municipal election protests); H.4590 (early voting hours); H.4158 (housing rental agreements); H.5066 (affordable liquor liability insurance fund).
House Education & Public Works K-12 Subcommittee; February 27 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are four bills on the agenda: H.5105 (military coursework college credit); H.4655 (physical education requirements); H.4649 (contracted security services); H.4866 (Smart Heart Act).
House Education & Public Works Committee; February 27 immediately upon adjournment of the EPW K-12 Subcommittee; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are nine bills on the agenda: H.4709 (cursive writing grades 2-5); H.5105 (military coursework college credit); H.4655 (physical education requirements); H.4649 (contracted security services); H.4866 (Smart Heart Act); H.4819 (handicapped parking placards); H.3160 (definition of personal vehicle); H.4933 (vehicle sunscreen devices); H.4436 (interfering with an emergency vehicle). The committee will receive a presentation from the Education Commission of the States.
House 3-M Committee; February 27 1.5 hours upon adjournment; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: There are six bills on the agenda: H.3988 (pharmacy practice act); H.4333 (mobile optometry units); H.4365 (social work interstate compact); H.4552 (affordable housing on redeveloped military installations); H.4680 (firefighter cancer health care benefit plan residency requirement); H.4817 (proof of age to purchase alternative nicotine products).
Conference Committee on H.3594 (permitless carry); February 27 at 2pm; Agenda; Live Stream
Summary: The first meeting of the conference committee on H.3594 (permitless carry). The House conferees are Reps. Micah Caskey, Bobby Cox, and Justin Bamberg. The Senate conferees are Sens. Brad Hutto, Shane Massey, and Shane Martin.
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 9-11: Senate Finance Committee budget deliberations
April 10: Crossover Day
April 10: Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) April revenue estimate (final forecast)
April 23-25: Senate floor budget deliberations
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
