Good morning. Hope you had a good weekend.

The first year of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session ended on Thursday. This final week was a flurry of activity.

In 2014, I was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley as the 7th Congressional District Representative to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control Board of Directors and served until my election to the House.

So last week with my knowledge of DHEC operations, it was a privilege to be appointed by House Speaker Murrell Smith to serve on the conference committee to iron out the differences between the House and Senate on S. 399, a bill that restructures and modernizes DHEC to create the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Services.

Both the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Services will become cabinet agencies with their directors being appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate.

I’m pleased that on Wednesday the House unanimously passed a bill I sponsored, H. 3072, that protects the four percent property tax assessment rate after a property owner dies until the decedent's estate is closed, upon 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, which I think is only fair.

We set an ambitious agenda for the session that included improving statewide economic development, reforming our education system, implementing fiscal discipline, increasing personal freedom, and prioritizing public safety and made meaningful progress towards achieving our goals.

Although the session officially wrapped up on Thursday, Gov. McMaster called a special session for next week to finish our work on the state budget, bond reform to stop the revolving door for repeat criminals, and increasing the penalties for fentanyl trafficking.

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.

We had a busy week in Columbia. Here’s my report.

On Wednesday, I was glad to congratulate former Gov. David Beasley at a Joint Assembly of the House and Senate honoring his service as Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program. Under his leadership the World Food Program has fed and otherwise assisted hundreds of millions of the world's most desperate and needy people, often in extraordinarily dangerous and trying circumstances.

On Thursday the South Carolina Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act, which I cosponsored, unanimously passed the House. This bill will improve access to healthcare services for all South Carolinians, especially those in remote or underserved areas.

Also, on Thursday Gov. McMaster signed S. 39 into law that creates the Education Scholarship Trust Fund that will provide up to $6,000 per year per qualifying student to allow them to choose a school that may better fit their needs.

As a strong supporter of our teachers I was proud to vote for the Educator Assistance Act, which will help ensure professional treatment of our educators.

This bill will establish a permanent teaching certificate, eliminating the paperwork currently required every five years for recertification. It would also give teachers 10 days from the date that a district posts their salary schedule to withdraw a contract without penalty, a provision that addresses the current reality that South Carolina statute requires teachers to sign contracts prior to knowing their salary.

On Thursday, I voted to pass the Police Officers Retirement System Earnings Limitation Bill, out of the Ways and Means Committee, which removes earning limitations currently placed on retired law enforcement officers who wish to return to work.

With a shortage in law enforcement officers we should be encouraging those who have retired and wish to return to service to do so, not penalize them by placing limitations on their earnings.

H. 3414, which bans ‘Carolina Squat Trucks’, a dangerous vehicle modification that raises the front end of a vehicle high enough that it impedes a driver’s ability to see over the hood, is one step closer to becoming law. On Thursday the Senate concurred with House amendments and passed the bill, sending it to the Governor for his signature.

Next week is the final week of the House session for this year.

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.

Hope you had a good weekend. Here’s my legislative report.

On Thursday, as chair of the Ways and Means Property Tax Subcommittee, I held my first subcommittee meeting.

We passed out three bills, one of which, H. 3072, I sponsored that protects the four percent property tax assessment rate after a property owner dies until the decedent's estate is closed, upon 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, which I think is only fair.

Last week we passed landmark legislation that will ensure parents have more options and choices about how their children are educated.

S. 039, which establishes the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, will provide eligible elementary and secondary students from low income families with scholarships to cover their education expenses at the school of their choice -- expenses such as tuition and fees, instructional materials, tutoring, computer hardware, assessments, and transportation. These scholarships will be funded directly from the state budget, meaning no money is being directly taken from the current K-12 education budget or from existing public schools.

These scholarships are a critical step towards creating a more equitable education system in South Carolina as it recognizes the importance of school choice for families and gives every student an opportunity to succeed.

On Wednesday, we passed H. 3583, a bill that specifically targets the use of sexually explicit images or videos to extort money, sexual favors, or other benefits from a victim. South Carolina is now the 19th state to have its own laws against this type of cybercrime, which is an important step in protecting our citizens and deterring potential offenders.

The passing of this bill is particularly meaningful because one of my colleagues, Rep. Brandon Guffey, R-York, recently lost his son to this senseless crime. His tragic loss highlights the urgent need for this legislation, which will provide recourse for victims and send a strong message that sexual exploitation in any form is a serious crime that will not be tolerated.

I hope you’ll consider participating in “Palmetto Giving Day” this Tuesday and Wednesday, May 2-3. The Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation organizes this annual thirty-six hour online giving event that benefits nonprofit organizations in Georgetown County. Many of these organizations have matching donation opportunities during this event that will essentially double your donation.

For more information about Palmetto Giving Day and to make donations please visit PalmettoGiving Day.org.

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.

Good morning.

After being off for a week, the House of Representatives was back in session last week, focusing primarily on working on bills that are in committee.

On Wednesday, Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, and I did get an opportunity to meet with members of the Georgetown County School Board at the State House. I appreciate the board’s efforts. Education is so important to the future of our county and state.

On Tuesday, a subcommittee of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee passed S. 164, which would eliminate our state’s Certificate of Need requirements for most healthcare providers.

Currently, these regulations require healthcare providers to obtain government approval before expanding or establishing new healthcare facilities or services. Repealing these laws will reduce the regulatory burden on healthcare providers, increase access to healthcare in our state, and lower costs for patients, which I support.

Another healthcare related bill discussed in subcommittee last week was the South Carolina Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act, which I cosponsored. This bill defines and specifies requirements for healthcare professionals who provide telehealth services and will improve access to healthcare services for all South Carolinians, especially those in remote or underserved areas.

Two bills designed to protect our children were passed out of the House Judiciary Committee.

The Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act, provides a crucial framework for preventing child abduction in family law cases. This bill prioritizes the welfare and best interests of children, making sure that child custody determination orders from other states can be registered and enforced efficiently.

The Uniform Unregulated Child Custody Transfer Act, strengthens criminal penalties for violators and requires child placement agencies to share specific information with adoptive parents. This bill ensures that children placed for adoption are not subjected to unregulated custody transfers and that they receive the financial support services they need.

I intend to support both of these bills.

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee discussed H. 3734, a bill aimed at reforming municipal elections by requiring a more predictable election schedule for voters and requiring use of a state-approved voting system.

I hope you 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 Easter Monday. Here’s my brief legislative report.

It was a privilege to meet former Florida Governor Jeb Bush on Tuesday at the State House. He spoke to the House Republican Caucus advocating much needed school choice.

Last week with the looming Thursday deadline for bills to “crossover” to the Senate, the House worked to push important legislation over the finish line.

The House passed five adoption-related bills I cosponsored that make the process of adopting children in our state less burdensome, while ensuring safety and integrity.

These bills facilitate family members to become legal guardians when adoption is not an option for minors, eliminate the 90-day waiting time to finalize an adoption, allow family court judges to waive pre- and post-adoption report requirements, and allow permanency planning hearings to include termination of parental rights determinations.

On Wednesday, the House passed another bill I cosponsored, the ESG Pension Protection Act. This bill ensures the $39 billion in SC's pension system will be invested to maximize the returns for state and local government employees and not be compromised by Environmental-Social-Governance objectives being pushed on us by the far left.

Allowing new parents to take time off to care for their children without sacrificing their income or job security is critical in retaining and recruiting teachers. I voted in support of H. 3908, which would allow teachers who become new parents -- either upon the birth or adoption of a child -- six weeks paid leave, which is the same leave available to other state employees.

It’s imperative that we make life saving medication available in our schools to respond quickly to an overdose emergency and potentially save the life of a student or staff member. On Thursday, I voted to pass H. 4122, which will allow school nurses, in addition to School Resource Officers, to stock and administer Narcan.

Additionally, the House unanimously passed H.3691, which I cosponsored, that allows coroners to stock and administer life-saving medication such as Narcan in the event they encounter overdose victims.

On Wednesday, I met with Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District Assistant Chief Jeff Kosto, who was at the State House with members of the SC State Firefighters Association. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our MIGCFD firefighters and EMS personnel.

Next week the House is on furlough, and will reconvene Tuesday, April 18th. From there we have just four weeks left of the legislative session.

I hope you 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.

Good morning. Hope you had a good weekend.

McClellanville Mayor Rut Leland is the longest serving Mayor in the state (46 years), a statewide leader in municipal government, and a constituent. I nominated Mayor Leland for the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, and on Wednesday I was privileged to be in attendance when Gov. McMaster presented the award to him.

On Saturday, I attended the Georgetown County Republican Party Convention as a delegate and was privileged to be asked to address the convention, which was attended by a record number of delegates. My congratulations to Karol Anderson, who was reelected party chair and to Kelley Johnson and Bill Chaplin, who were elected first vice chair and state committeeman respectively.

Last week the House continued to work to reform our education system so that South Carolina has a competitive advantage that will foster innovation, stimulate economic growth, and ultimately lead to greater prosperity now and for future generations.

On Wednesday, the House passed a bill I cosponsored, H. 4060, that establishes statewide workforce readiness goals and makes changes related to dual enrollment and credit transfer between institutions of higher learning. It establishes a uniform system of dual enrollment for college courses taken while students are still in high school.

Parents and their children deserve as much choice in education as possible, regardless of their zip code.

I worked to get H. 3843, the Open Enrollment Bill, passed by the House on Thursday. The bill will allow students to attend public schools outside of their attendance zone and school district. By providing options in physical location, learning environments, and educational opportunities, parents can find the best school and fit for their child’s education.

Also, on Thursday, the House passed H. 3295, a bill that gives school districts the flexibility to use courses that focus on mastery of specific skills, such as welding or mechanics, in place of traditional required seat time in other topics. By embracing flexibility in education, we can create more inclusive, personalized, and effective learning environments that support the success of all students and prepare them for jobs upon graduation.

This week is crossover week in the legislature, the 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.

Any legislation that clears either the House or Senate after Thursday, April 6th, requires a two-thirds majority vote to even be debated by the other body this year, greatly narrowing down bills that can pass both houses this year.

I hope you have a good week and a happy Easter. 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.

I was glad to spend some time at the State House with Georgetown County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Laura Gassler, pictured below.

I greatly appreciate the efforts of Habitat for Humanity to build and restore homes for those in need to build “strength, stability and self-reliance,” as stated in their mission statement.

I welcome visits to my office in the State House and to attend House sessions and committee meetings. We’re usually in session Tuesday through Thursday. Groups are welcome. Please contact me to schedule a visit.

Last week was Budget Week, where the state budget bill was debated and voted on the House floor. There were some long days and after casting 225 votes on various amendments, the budget passed with bipartisan support.

I’m proud of the work we all came together to do in order to pass a budget that is fiscally conservative while funding the core functions of government.

We focused on reducing taxes and increasing our reserves, investing in our roads and bridges, recruiting and retaining our teachers and law enforcement professionals, and workforce preparedness through education and training initiatives. As a result, we are positioning our great state for continued economic growth and ensuring South Carolinians have opportunities to prosper.

On Thursday, I voted in favor of the economic incentive package that will bring Scout Motors to our state.

Scout Motors is a U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer backed by Volkswagen, which is establishing their first manufacturing plant in Blythewood, near Columbia. The economic impact of Scout Motors is estimated to be $15.3 billion by 2029, with 8,000 jobs created. At full capacity, more than 200,000 Scout vehicles may be produced annually at the facility.

This week the House is on furlough and will not meet again until March 28th.

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.

Hope you had a good weekend. Here’s an update.

On Wednesday, Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, and I had the pleasure to meet with the Leadership Georgetown County class at the State House, pictured below. Sponsored by the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, this great program focuses on leadership development and community awareness and service.

My strong support for the proposed Southern Evacuation Lifeline Highway (SELL) made the news.

I believe this vital highway project is a priority for the safety of our residents and visitors. Connecting Hwy 31 with U.S. 378, the SELL would vastly improve access across the Waccamaw River between Conway and Georgetown, providing a needed additional transportation corridor that will reduce traffic congestion and vastly expedite hurricane evacuations, particularly along the South Strand.

Click here for the news report.

I’m pleased the Army Corps of Engineers announced inclusion in their budget of an additional $4 million for badly needed Murrells Inlet dredging.

It's a win-win to use sand dredged from the navigation channel to renourish Garden City Beach.

Click here for the news report.

As a cosponsor of the “Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act,” H. 3726, I’m pleased it overwhelmingly passed the House last week on a 108 to 5 vote. The legislation makes an investment in education and workforce development that will provide the tools and resources to get people jobs, and help students, parents, and job seekers make informed career choices.

Parents and their children deserve as much choice as possible when it comes to education, regardless of their zip code or district.

On Thursday, the House passed H.3843, the Open Enrollment Bill, to allow students to attend public schools outside of their attendance zone and school district. By providing more opportunities, parents can find the best school and fit for their child’s education and ensure they are prepared for success.

The House Ways and Means Committee wrapped up our hearings and approved the preliminary 2023-24 state budget. This initial budget proposal (nearly $14 billion) is fiscally conservative and focuses on core functions of government. It will be debated this week on the House floor. I’m committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

I hope you 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 wanted you to know that I’ve been promoted to Assistant Chief Majority Whip, which is the second highest whip position in the House of Representatives.

Wednesday was Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day at the State House. I was glad to meet with, from left to right, Ruth Keilen, Patty Younts, and Dr. Jon Bowman, to talk about Alzheimer’s related issues.

More than 95,000 South Carolinians have this terrible disease, with nearly 200,000 family members and friends providing care for them.

It’s important that we give flexibility to parents to make the best choice for their child's education.

On Tuesday, I voted to pass joint resolution H.3591, which would amend the SC Constitution through repeal of the “Blaine Amendment,” which currently prohibits the state from providing direct aid to certain private educational institutions.

Repeal of the amendment, which will be decided by voters in a statewide ballot question in 2024, will also help protect many state funded education programs, such as the SC Tuition Grants Program, LIFE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, CERDEP/CDEPP (full day 4K programs), and the Office of First Steps.

I’m pleased the Army Corps of Engineers announced last week the awarding of $14 million for Pawleys Island and $57 million for North Myrtle Beach through Garden City Beach in disaster relief funds to repair damages to our beaches after Hurricane Ian.

On Wednesday, I proudly voted for H.3532, which creates an additional criminal offense and penalty for committing an additional violent crime while out on bond. This bill will help make South Carolina a safer place by stopping the revolving door for repeat criminals. It creates sentence and bond enhancements for a person convicted of a violent crime while out on bond for a previous violent crime. The bipartisan vote was 92-20.

I’m pleased Scout Motors, a US electric vehicle manufacturer backed by Volkswagen Group, announced Friday they will be establishing their first manufacturing plant in Blythewood, South Carolina. The company’s $2 billion investment has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs. At full capacity, more than 200,000 Scout vehicles may be produced annually at the facility.

The House Ways and Means Committee wrapped up our hearings and approved the preliminary 2023-24 state budget. This initial budget proposal (nearly $14 billion) is a starting point. The House will debate it the week of March 13th before sending it to the Senate.

I hope you 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.

Good morning. Here’s my legislative update.

On Wednesday, it was a privilege for Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, and I to meet with members of Georgetown County Council at the State House. Left to right: Rep. Anderson, County Attorney Jay Watson, Clint Elliott, Stella Mercado and Council Chairman Louis Morant.

I had three days of Ways and Means Committee meetings that were focused on developing the state budget bill. One of the important focuses was on education and improving teacher retention.

South Carolina has a record 1,400 vacant teaching positions. The committee approved a $2,500 increase in the state’s starting teacher salary, from $40,000 to $42,500. This puts the state on a path to bring starting teacher pay up to $50,000 by 2026, a goal established by Gov. McMaster.

I cosponsored the “Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act,” H. 3726, along with my colleagues on the Economic Development and Utility Modernization Ad Hoc Committee.

This bill establishes a state workforce readiness goal of at least 60 percent of all working age South Carolinians having a postsecondary degree or recognized industry credential by 2030.

To reach this goal, the bill includes these three measures:

*The State Dept. of Education must ensure that all public high school students are prepared for college-level math and reading.
*State colleges and universities must develop articulation agreements for uniformity in recognition of earned college credits.
*A report is required to the General Assembly on the best way to utilize the state’s technical colleges for those seeking new opportunities through workforce training and post-secondary credentials.

I expect this bill to move through committee and be taken up on the House floor in the coming weeks.

I’m a cosponsor of H. 3014, the “Clementa C. Pickney Hate Crimes Act,” which allows criminal courts to impose additional penalties on criminals convicted of a felony who target their victims based on their race, or other listed factors. On Thursday the bill passed the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee and will head to the full Judiciary Committee this week.

As one of only two states that hasn’t addressed this issue, it’s imperative we get this to the House floor this session.

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.