Happy New Year! I hope you’re doing well.
The House of Representatives session began last Tuesday and I wanted to give you an update.
I’m honored to again serve on the coveted Ways and Means Committee, as chair of its Property Tax Subcommittee and as a member of its Healthcare Budget Subcommittee.
I’m also honored to again serve in the House leadership as a Majority Whip.
This year, I also serve as the chair of the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation and the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study Policy Committee.
On Tuesday, the House Criminal Laws Subcommittee held a hearing on my bill, H. 3015, that would outlaw child luring. This is a bill supported by over 17,000 petition signatures and resolutions of support by the cities of Mt. Pleasant and Charleston.
The hearing resulted in the crafting of a new compromise bill on luring, H. 4825, of which I’m the sponsor. I’m optimistic the bill will pass the House.
Luring children should be illegal in South Carolina. Last fall there was another incident in Mt. Pleasant of child luring, where an adult attempted to get a child to go with him in a car, with the promise of taking the child fishing. Over the years, there have been other luring attempts promising candy and visits with puppies.
On Friday, I participated in the annual Georgetown County Legislative Delegation Breakfast, hosted by the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors. Senators Stephen Goldfinch and Ronnie Sabb and Rep. Carl Anderson and I answered a lot of great questions from a packed house.
I believe it’s important to focus on these key issues in 2024:
Further expanding parental choice in education.
Focusing on children's health and safety.
Improving the judicial selection process.
Continuing to enhance our economic momentum.
Developing comprehensive energy policies and investing in modern, efficient power generation to meet our state's growing needs.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt