The last two weeks in the House of Representatives was filled with meetings with constituent groups and committee meetings on bills that have come over from the Senate.

On Tuesday I was honored to meet with members of the Georgetown County Board of Education, including Superintendent Dr. Randy Dozier, to discuss education issues. I appreciate their hard work for our students.

Georgetown County Board of Education members Elery Little, Johnny Wilson, Richard Kerr, Sandra Johnson, and Sarah Elliott and Superintendent Dr. Randy Dozier with me in my Columbia office.

Also on Tuesday, I was pleased to meet with the leadership of the Coastal Carolina Association of REALTORS, who brought their concerns to the State House.

With just six legislative days left in the House session, the focus has been on getting Senate bills through committee hearings and on to the floor for votes. The most important pieces of Senate legislation we now have are the state budget and gas tax bills, which differ substantially from the House versions. These bills will be in a conference committee of House and Senate members to try and work out the differences before they go to floor votes.

Likewise, the focus in the Senate is getting House legislation to the Senate floor for votes. I’m pleased to report that the flounder sustainability bill, H. 3665, I cosponsored, that unanimously passed the House, was reported favorably out of the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee and should be up for a floor vote soon. The bill increases the minimum size limit to 15” and reduces the per person limit to 10 fish per day and boat limit to 20 fish per day. I’m hopeful it will pass the Senate and become law.

And finally, last week I was honored to be appointed by House Speaker Jay Lucas to the Opioid Abuse Prevention Study Committee to “identify legislative solutions to help combat addiction and curb the hundreds of opioid-related overdose deaths in the state.” Click here for media coverage.

I’m a cosponsor of a package of bills aimed at this addiction problem. According to the latest statistics, nearly as many people die in South Carolina from opioid abuse as die in car crashes. We’ve got to conquer this problem as soon as possible.

It’s an honor and privilege to serve in the House. Please let me know if I can be of assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt