Happy Easter Monday. Here’s my legislative report.
It was good to see US Rep. Nancy Mace at the State House last week. When Nancy was in the state legislature, we worked together as the lead sponsors of a bill to outlaw child luring.
On Tuesday, the House passed the South Carolina Energy Security Act, a bill I cosponsored, which is a critical step to ensure our state can meet its growing energy demands. Recognizing that South Carolina's continued growth and economic development hinge on reliable energy, this bill takes a comprehensive “all-of-the-above” approach to enhance our energy infrastructure.
The act facilitates the development of new energy projects, including natural gas, to ensure we have the capacity to power our state's future, restructures the Public Service Commission to make energy regulation more efficient and responsive to our state's needs, and encourages a broad mix of energy sources, focusing on reliability and affordability for South Carolinians.
Wednesday brought the passage of H.4289, a bill that addresses the influence of Diversity Equity and Inclusion or DEI ideology in college admissions and employment decisions. The bill prohibits the use of diversity pledges in college admissions and employment, emphasizing qualifications and achievements, and protects free speech, ensuring all viewpoints are treated equally.
On Thursday, the House passed the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Fund to make liquor liability insurance more affordable for businesses in South Carolina. This move addresses the closure of many small businesses due to high insurance costs. The bill encourages businesses to lower their premiums by implementing staff training on responsible alcohol service and other preventive measures, thus reducing the risk and cost of insurance.
Next week, the House will be on furlough. This pause is not just a cost-saving measure; it allows us to prepare for the crucial period ahead as we approach the April 10 "crossover" deadline for when bills must have passed out of the House and have been sent to the Senate to be considered this year through the normal legislative process.
I’m honored to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt