Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hope you had a great weekend.

It was a pleasure to meet with members of the state branch of Coaches vs. Overdoses at the State House.

The Coaches vs. Overdoses program is a national campaign to provide coaches, parents, student-athletes, and communities with resources to tackle fentanyl and defeat overdoses. Founded in 2022 with the help of NFL Hall of Famer Randy White, who lost his son-in-law to an overdose, the program is designed to reduce overdoses through prevention awareness education and empowerment. I greatly appreciate their efforts.

Last week was budget week in the House. After casting 236 votes on various amendments, I proudly stood with House Republican Caucus members to pass a balanced, fiscally conservative budget -- one that cuts taxes, eliminates waste, and invests in the priorities that matter most to South Carolina families.

While Washington, D.C. continues to spend recklessly, we do things differently in South Carolina.

We don’t spend money we don’t have, and we prioritize the taxpayers who fund this government -- not bureaucrats and special interests.

The 2025-2026 budget is proof of that commitment. It’s a responsible plan that:

Cuts taxes: $1 billion in direct tax relief, including $800 million in property tax relief and $200 million in income tax cuts.

Invests in education: raises teacher pay, keeps college tuition low, and expands school safety.

Improves infrastructure: $200 million for roads and bridges, $20 million for water and sewer improvements.

Strengthens public safety: supports law enforcement and ensures our communities are safe.

Prepares for the future: invests in workforce development and keeping spending in check.

Our state is booming because of conservative leadership and responsible budgeting -- and we’re committed to keeping it that way. I’m proud to stand behind this budget and the real, tangible benefits it delivers.

In an effort to save taxpayers’ money, the House is on furlough this week. We’ll go back into session on March 25th.

Have a good week. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

It was my pleasure to meet with the Leadership Georgetown County class at the State House on Wednesday. Sponsored by the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, this program develops skilled local leaders through training and hands-on experience. I appreciate their willingness to step forward as leaders to help our community.

Also, Wednesday was Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day at the State House. I was glad to meet with Taylor Wilson, state director of the Alzheimer's Association, and Patty Younts, an Alzheimer’s advocate, who lost her husband to the disease, to talk about Alzheimer’s related issues. More than 112,000 South Carolinians have this terrible disease, with nearly 219,000 family members and friends providing care for them.

Last week, the House took major steps on reducing burdensome regulations, providing relief to small businesses, and cracking down on crime.

Government overreach hurts small businesses, limits job creation, and slows down our economy. That’s why the Regulatory Freedom Act, a bill I cosponsored, overwhelmingly passed the House 108-0 on Thursday. This is a bill that puts citizens and businesses, not unelected bureaucrats, back in charge and does the following:

*Ends outdated and unnecessary regulations unless reapproved.
*Stops unelected agencies from creating new rules without legislative oversight.
*Ensures that for every new regulation, two outdated ones are repealed.
*Strengthens transparency and accountability to protect small businesses.

Skyrocketing insurance costs are crippling South Carolina’s bars, restaurants, and VFW posts. That’s why the House passed the Liquor Liability Bill 109-0 to deliver relief while maintaining accountability in alcohol service.

The bill ends the unfair “joint and several” liability exception for bars and restaurants, which has led to out-of-control lawsuits that punish responsible businesses, expands insurance options to increase competition and lower costs, and requires alcohol server training to ensure responsible service.

Smash-and-grab thefts and large-scale shoplifting rings are a serious public safety and economic issue. H.3523, a bill the House passed last month, was just passed by the Senate and sent to the Gov. McMaster for his signature. The bill makes organized retail theft a felony and gives law enforcement new tools to fight back against organized criminals.

Next week, the House will begin debating the state budget bill. I’m committed to fighting for a budget that reflects our conservative values -- one that invests in the priorities that matter like law enforcement, safer schools, better roads, and tax relief for hardworking families, while cutting wasteful spending.

I’m honored to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

I hope you’re doing well.

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of meeting with Grand Strand area leaders in Columbia at the Grand Strand Legislative Reception, which included representatives from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors, Coastal Carolina University, and Horry Georgetown Technical College.

From left to right: Madison Cooper, CCAR; Jennifer Wilbanks, HGTC; Rep. Heather Crawford, Boone Peeler; Robert Hucks, HGTC Commissioner; Rep. Val Guest; myself; Bob Farrar, HGTC Commissioner; Murph Fore, president HGTC; and Rep. Kevin Hardee.

Last week, I proudly voted for S.62, a bill to expand school choice, which is a major step forward in giving parents more control over their children’s education while ensuring accountability and long-term sustainability.

We’ve fought for years to ensure that every child in South Carolina -- regardless of their zip code or financial background -- has access to a quality education tailored to their needs.

The House strengthened the Senate bill to ensure a legally sound, structured, and fair program that doesn’t take funding away from our public school districts. We restored the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, reinforcing the long-term stability of the program, and appointed a trustee to oversee its management and protect against legal challenges.

We also prioritized students in greatest need -- children of military families, foster children, low-income students, and those with disabilities -- ensuring they have first access to scholarships before the general application window opens.

On the Ways and Means Committee we continued work on the state budget to ensure it reflects our conservative values -- cutting taxes, reducing wasteful spending, and making smart investments in South Carolina’s future.

This budget provides over $1 billion in tax relief, including $800 million in property tax cuts and over $200 million in income tax reductions. We are committed to keeping money in your pockets and ensuring that our state remains competitive for businesses and job creators.

The budget raises teacher salaries to $50,000 by 2026, ensures continued support for school safety, workforce training, infrastructure improvements, and much-needed law enforcement pay raises. We also prioritized protecting taxpayer dollars by requiring state agencies to cut unnecessary vacancies and implement new fraud prevention measures.

I hope this report is helpful. Have a good week. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

I hope you had a great weekend. Here’s my legislative report.

On Wednesday I was glad to meet with a group from the Tyron Wilson Let Us Mentor Teens Project at the State House. The project serves Georgetown and Williamsburg counties with a mission “to create a brighter future for at-risk teens by providing them with access to innovative technology, educational experiences, and cultural enrichment opportunities.” A great group.

Last week, my colleagues and I took meaningful steps to support our veterans, protect children online, ensure a responsible state budget, and expand school choice.

H.3510, a bill to strengthen veteran’s services, passed the House 109-0 on Wednesday. With almost 400,000 veterans calling South Carolina home, it’s important to ensure they receive the support and services they deserve. This bill will fund two full-time County Veterans’ Affairs Officers in each county.

On Thursday the Social Media Regulation Act, which establishes critical safeguards to keep kids safe online and ensure parents have control over their children’s digital presence, passed the House 89-14. This bill requires social media platforms to verify users’ ages, obtain parental consent for minors under 18 before they can create an account, limits harmful content exposure, and restricts data collection on minors.

The state budget process is in full swing. I’m committed to ensuring a budget that prioritizes fiscal responsibility, tax relief, and strategic investments in our state’s future that focuses on the following:

*Cutting taxes to keep South Carolina competitive and put money back into your pocket.

*Investing in our workforce through teacher pay raises and job-training programs.

*Improving infrastructure by funding road and bridge repairs.

*Enhancing public safety with increased resources for law enforcement and disaster preparedness.

The House Education and Public Works Committee advanced S.62, an important step toward ensuring more families have access to school choice through Education Scholarship Trust Funds. This legislation will allow more students—especially children from military families, foster care, and lower-income households—to apply for scholarships that give them access to the best educational opportunities. This bill will likely move to the House floor for debate next week.

I’m honored to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

Happy President’s Day! I hope you’re doing well.

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of meeting with University of South Carolina president Michael Amiridis to discuss the school’s first hospital specializing in neurological care.

Also, on Wednesday, Dr. Gerald Harmon (center), interim president of the USC School of Medicine, was recognized as “Doctor of the Day” by the House of Representatives. With Dr. Harmon is Travis Jebackumar, a first year USC medical student, who serves as the 2028 class president.

For Dr. Harmon, who is a long-time Pawleys Island resident, this marks the 38th year he has served as Doctor of the Day.

Last week, my colleagues and I in the House Republican Caucus took major steps to crack down on organized crime, secure our energy future, and protect kids online.

On Thursday, H.3523, a bill aimed at cracking down on organized retail crime passed the House 101-0. Across the country, we’ve seen smash-and-grab thefts grow more brazen, with criminal rings coordinating large-scale retail thefts that drive up prices and threaten jobs.

The days of slaps on the wrist for repeat offenders are over—this legislation ensures that those who steal thousands in merchandise face felony charges, increased penalties, and real consequences.

I voted to pass the South Carolina Energy Security Act, ensuring that as our population grows, we have the reliable and affordable power needed to fuel our economy. This legislation expands access to nuclear, natural gas, hydrogen, and renewables, cuts red tape to speed up approval of energy projects, and protects consumers from rising costs. Energy security is economic security, and I’m committed to making sure South Carolina remains strong and independent.

The Social Media Regulation Act moved forward this week, passing out of the Judiciary Committee with a favorable vote. It’s no secret that social media has negatively impacted the mental health of children and teens. This legislation ensures that social media companies verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors, limits the collection of personal data from children, and restricts features designed to increase screen addiction. It also prohibits adults from directly messaging minors they aren’t connected to, helping to prevent online exploitation and predatory behavior.

Have a good week. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

Last week, bills I cosponsored were introduced to ensure your tax dollars are spent responsibly, strengthen our economy, and uphold the values that make our state great.

H.3926, the DOGE Bill, creates the Commission on Fiscal Restraint and Government Efficiency to identify wasteful spending, repeal burdensome regulations, and eliminate unnecessary government programs. This commission will review every dollar the state government spends and make recommendations to cut unnecessary programs.

For too long, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies have been used to push identity-based quotas, force ideological training, and undermine merit-based success. I’m fighting to stop this failed social experiment with H.3927, which will completely dismantle DEI programs in our government, universities, and public schools.

We must ensure our energy infrastructure keeps up with growth. That’s why I cosponsored the South Carolina Energy Security Act, to keep our power supply affordable, reliable, and independent. This bill reforms the Public Service Commission, encourages investment in nuclear and renewable energy, and expands energy transmission and storage capacity.

On a local level, derelict and abandoned boats continue to plague our waters, raising safety and environmental concerns. I’ve filed H.3771, which requires an owner of a boat that’s anchored in the waters of this state more than 14 days to maintain marine recovery insurance on the boat. To obtain insurance, the owner must provide the insurer a recent vessel survey that includes a declaration that the boat is seaworthy and can move under its own power.

When someone dies and owns a home taxed at the four percent assessment rate, it’s not fair for counties to change the rate to six percent even before an estate is closed. That’s why I sponsored H.3841, which requires the special assessment rate and any tax exemptions to continue until the decedent's estate is closed, the recording of a deed or deed of distribution out of the estate, or after December 31st of the year following the date of death, whichever occurs first.

On Friday, I was honored to be reelected as chair of the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study Policy Committee. GSATS serves as the agency that plans and programs transportation improvements in the coastal areas of Georgetown, Horry and Brunswick (NC) counties.

The policy committee welcomed Georgetown County Council Chair Clint Elliott to his first meeting. The committee approved a Hwy 17 corridor study of the area around the intersection with Hwy 707 in Murrells Inlet. It also got updates on these Murrells Inlet projects: Riverwood traffic circle, Wachesaw Road repaving, and the Old Kings Hwy segment of the Inlet to Intercoastal Waterway multipurpose path – all scheduled for completion by May 1st.

I’m honored to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

I hope you had a great weekend. Here’s my legislative report.

Last week, the House was back in session. Much of the week was spent in committee meetings, where legislation is debated and refined before reaching the House floor. In total, there were more than 31 committee and subcommittee meetings, demonstrating our commitment to advancing meaningful solutions for South Carolinians.

House Ways and Means budget subcommittees began hearing budget requests from state agencies in preparation for the full House budget debate, scheduled for the week of March 10th.

The Healthcare Budget Subcommittee meeting I chaired on Tuesday made the news with our efforts to find solutions to the doctor shortage in our state.

The biggest gaps are in OBGYNs and mental health. One solution would be to incentivize doctors in residency to complete their training programs in the state, making it more likely they would stay in SC. Increasing the Graduate Medical Education Program, which helps fund medical residency training at hospitals, would help.

The subcommittee also heard from Dr. Gerald Harmon, Interim Dean of the USC School of Medicine. Dr. Harmon, a long-time Pawleys Island resident, made a presentation for continued funding for USC’s Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, which served nearly 20,000 patients last year with 241 service locations in 44 counties.

On Wednesday, I attended Gov. Henry McMaster’s annual State of the State Address, where he outlined a bold vision for South Carolina’s future.

One of the most important takeaways was his strong commitment to cutting state income taxes -- a priority that aligns directly with the House Republican Caucus’ goal of delivering historic tax relief.

I supported passage of Gavin’s Law last year, which criminalized sexual extortion. The bill was named after my colleague Rep. Brandon Guffey’s son, who took his own life as a result of sexual extortion. Last week, thankfully, the man suspected of this heinous crime was arrested and extradited from Nigeria to be formally charged. Click here for news coverage.

I hope you’ll visit my official House webpage, where you can find bills that I’ve either sponsored or cosponsored, view my voting record, search for bills, and access video feeds of the House sessions and committee meetings.

Have a good week. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

Happy New Year! Hope you’re doing well.

Since the new year, I’ve been busy preparing for the 2025-2026 legislative session, which began last week.

I’m honored to again serve on the coveted Ways and Means Committee, this time as chair of the Healthcare Budget Subcommittee.

On January 9-10, I participated in a state budget retreat in Charleston for the subcommittee chairs of the Ways and Means Committee, where we heard from budget analysts for each subcommittee.

Last Wednesday, I conducted a Healthcare Budget Subcommittee meeting at the State House to hear budget requests from the Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation, Commission for the Blind, Dept. on Aging, and Dept. of Children’s Advocacy.

While the House will not be is session this week, my Healthcare Budget Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday (weather permitting) to hear more health-related agency budget requests.

I’ve filed a bill, H.3613, to merge the six main state healthcare agencies into the Executive Office of Health Policy to eliminate healthcare fragmentation, gain cost efficiency, and enhance care quality and accessibility. Click here for news coverage.

These are the “Six Pillars for Progress” that will guide us in this legislative session. These priorities reflect the values and needs of South Carolinians and are designed to build a brighter future for our state:

Deliver Historic Tax Cuts: Simplify our tax system and reduce burdens on small
businesses.

Promote Business-Friendly Policies: Encourage growth by removing barriers and
addressing high costs.

Fuel Our Booming Economy: Invest in infrastructure, energy, and
workforce development.

Expand Educational Opportunities: Empower parents and improve outcomes for
students.

Prioritize Public Safety and Law-and-Order Policies: Strengthen penalties and
support law enforcement.

Strengthen Families and Communities: Defend parental rights, support personal
freedom, and promote conservative values.

I’m honored to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

MURRELLS INLET -- A bill to merge six state healthcare agencies into the Executive Office of Health Policy and streamline the delivery of services has been filed by the chair of the House Ways and Means Healthcare Budget Subcommittee.

Rep. Lee Hewitt, R-Georgetown, says he filed the bill, H.3613, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the state’s healthcare services.

“This legislation would eliminate healthcare fragmentation, gain cost efficiency, and enhance care quality and accessibility,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt’s bill would merge the Departments of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Disabilities and Special Needs, Public Health, Health and Human Services, Mental Health, and Aging into the Executive Office of Health Policy.

The Secretary of Health and Policy would be a cabinet level office, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a majority vote in both the Senate and House. The Secretary can be removed from office by the Governor.

A similar bill was killed this year on a procedural vote in the House after concerns were expressed about the authority of the Secretary to enforce public heath emergencies. Click here for a news report.

“This bill rests the authority to enforce emergencies solely with the Governor,” Hewitt said. “Only the Governor can order law enforcement agencies or the national guard to assist the department in enforcing public health emergency measures, not the Secretary.”

“As a fiscal conservative, committed to limited government, this legislation would result in smaller, more efficient and effective government for state taxpayers, while enhancing healthcare quality and accessibility,” Hewitt said. “It’s a win for the conservative cause and for those in need of healthcare services.”

The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Hewitt is the Chief Majority Whip for the House Republican Caucus. He is a realtor and former SCDHEC board member.

I hope you’re doing well.

I was back in Columbia this week with my colleagues for the House’s reorganization. This process ensures we’re ready to tackle the challenges of the upcoming legislative session, which starts next month. It’s an exciting time as we elected caucus leadership, finalized committee assignments, and welcomed new members to the House.

I’m pleased to have been chosen as Chief Majority Whip, which places me in one of the top leadership positions in the House.

I’m excited to share that Rep. Murrell Smith was re-elected as Speaker of the House, and Rep. Tommy Pope was re-elected as Speaker Pro Tempore. Their continued leadership will be instrumental in ensuring a focused and effective legislative session.

I’m honored that Speaker Smith reappointed me to the powerful budget writing Ways and Means Committee, where I will serve as chairman of the Healthcare Budget Subcommittee, which has purview over 50 percent of the state budget.

These are the “Six Pillars for Progress” that will guide us in the upcoming legislative session:

Deliver Historic Tax Cuts: Simplify our tax system and reduce burdens on small
businesses.

Promote Business-Friendly Policies: Encourage growth by removing barriers and
addressing high costs.

Fuel Our Booming Economy: Invest in infrastructure, energy, and
workforce development.

Expand Educational Opportunities: Empower parents and improve outcomes for
students.

Prioritize Public Safety and Law-and-Order Policies: Strengthen penalties and
support law enforcement.

Strengthen Families and Communities: Defend parental rights, support personal
freedom, and promote conservative values.

I’m honored to represent District 108 in the House. It’s my priority to ensure your concerns and ideas are part of the conversation. If you have any questions about our upcoming priorities or issues important to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Together, we can make sure our community and state continues to grow and thrive.

Wishing you a joyous Christmas season ahead!

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.