I was recently in the news concerning the Murrells Inlet dredging project.

After leading the effort to fund the $35 million dredging project for all of the channels and basins used by boaters (16 miles) in the inlet, I’m extremely disappointed that three years after Georgetown County applied for the dredging permit, the US Army Corp of Engineers is still dragging its feet on issuing the permit. As this February 7th Coastal Observer news report states, the county and I are now reaching out to US Senators Tim Scott and Lindsay Graham and Congressman Russell Fry for help in moving forward.

Last week, House Republicans worked on cutting burdensome taxes on small businesses, improving our roads, raising standards in our schools, and strengthening public safety.

On Wednesday, the House unanimously passed the Small Business Tax Cut Act, which I cosponsored, delivering real relief to the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. This bill exempts the first $10,000 of assets from the Business Personal Property Tax, ending a tax that penalizes owners for investing in their own growth and allowing them to keep more of what they earn to reinvest, hire, and serve their communities.

Also, on Wednesday, the Revenue Policy Subcommittee I sit on held a hearing on H.5071, a bill that focuses on improving how South Carolina plans for and delivers road projects and is the result of more than nine months of work by the SC-DOT Ad Hoc Committee, including public hearings held across the state and extensive conversations with citizen stakeholders, business owners, local leaders, and transportation experts.

The Tenure Accountability Bill, another bill I cosponsored, promotes transparency and fairness in higher education by requiring annual performance evaluations for all public university faculty and regular post-tenure reviews for tenured professors. This legislation guarantees that taxpayer-funded educators continue meeting measurable professional standards throughout their careers.

In subcommittee, we advanced the Public School Grading Reform Bill to ensure grades reflect what students actually earn, not provide shortcuts that hurt long-term success. Parents deserve an honest picture of how their child is performing. This bill restores integrity to GPAs and graduation data, reinforces strong academic standards, and helps ensure our children are truly prepared for college, careers, and real life.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced a comprehensive juvenile crime reform package, the Juvenile Crime Reform Bills (H.5117, H.5120, H.5121) to protect families, hold violent offenders accountable, and keep communities safe. These measures ensure due process when considering whether serious juvenile offenders should be transferred to adult court, improve communication between schools and law enforcement when serious offenses occur, and invest in prevention programs such as mentoring, job training, recreation, and family support services.

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.

Rep. Lee Hewitt issued the following letter to NOAA Fisheries supporting the approval of an Exempted Fishing Permit, which would allow a 62 day recreational fishing season for Red Snapper off South Carolina.

February 13, 2026

Mary Vara, Sustainable Fisheries Division
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Subject: Approval of SCDNR Exempted Fishing Permit for Red Snapper

Dear Ms. Vara,

I ask NOAA Fisheries to approve the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ (SCDNR) Exempted Fishing Permit for Red Snapper.

Allowing a fixed 62 day recreational harvest season for Red Snapper off South Carolina, with size and bag limits, will provide the improved data collection necessary for much more accurate stock assessments and to determine state-specific landing projections. It will also provide a needed economic boost to the recreational and for-hire fishery sectors.

Currently, with the very short, derby-style recreational Red Snapper seasons in the South Atlantic, the Marine Recreational Information Program cannot provide useful estimates of fishing effort and landings because the percentage of standard errors are so high they are unreliable and not suitable for use in managing the fishery.

It is important to note that the current stock status, based on Secretarial Amendment 59 to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan, indicates overfishing is no longer occurring.

I represent a coastal district and I’m an avid offshore fisherman, who worked on head boats in my youth. I can personally attest to the abundance and size of Red Snapper off the South Carolina coast. These fish are being encountered in numbers and sizes that I don’t think have ever been seen off our state before. There is growing concern that these top predators are preying on other snapper-grouper species and taking over reefs.

SCDNR’s plan for requiring a Red Snapper Harvest Permit, along with required electronic trip and catch reporting, will provide the information necessary to more reliably quantify recreational catch, fishing effort and discards for Red Snapper.

SCDNR is working cooperatively with North Carolina, Georgia and Florida (East Coast), who are also seeking similar Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permits. These proposed state-led pilot programs will test data collection methods for more accurate recreational catch, effort and discard data.

It is time to end these unnecessary and potentially dangerous one or two day derby-style Red Snapper seasons by approving SCDNR’s Exempted Fishing Permit.

Respectfully,

Representative Lee Hewitt

Click here for the SCDNR Exempted Fishing Permit application.

Click here to send a comment to NOAA in support of the SCDNR permit.

I hope you had a great weekend.

On Library Day at the State House, the House unanimously passed a Resolution that recognizes and celebrates the historical and ongoing contributions of our public libraries. Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, and I had the pleasure of meeting with library advocates from Georgetown County.

Left to right: Rep. Carl Anderson; Dr. Michelle Greene, County Library Board Chair; Dwight McInvaill, County Library Director; Silvana Collins, Director of Library Children's Services; and John Collins, President of the Friends of Andrews Library.

On Tuesday, the Ways and Means Committee passed the SC Small Business Tax Cut of 2026 Act, which I cosponsored. This legislation exempts the first $10,000 of small business assets from property tax, cuts costly red tape, and ends a burdensome tax on investments. These reforms help boost local job growth and keep South Carolina competitive.

Last week, legislation increasing penalties for the sexual exploitation of minors advanced in the House Judiciary Subcommittee. This bill strengthens criminal penalties to ensure punishment fits the severity of these crimes and makes clear that “mistake of age” is not a defense for creating or distributing exploitative material.

The Judiciary Subcommittee also advanced legislation aimed at protecting children online by addressing the growing mental health and safety risks posed by addictive social media platforms. The bill requires reasonable age verification, parental consent, and increased transparency, giving families more control over how and when minors access social media.

A bipartisan bill advanced last week, S.405, strengthening the child abuse homicide statute by increasing the age covered under the crime from under 11 to under 18. This change ensures harsher penalties and greater accountability for those whose abusive or neglectful actions result in the death of an older child.

House Republicans continue to stand with parents by advancing legislation I cosponsored that protects parental rights, H.4757, affirming that moms and dads — not the government, are best equipped to make decisions about their children’s upbringing, education, and well-being.

Legislation expanding certificate-of-need exemptions for veterans’ homes, H.4799, also moved forward, cutting red tape to make it easier to provide care for the men and women who have served our country. This commonsense reform helps ensure veterans have access to the facilities and services they deserve.

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.

On Wednesday, I had the honor of attending Gov. Henry McMaster’s ninth and final State of the State address. It was a great night for South Carolina and a reminder of the steady, conservative leadership that drives our state forward.

Gov. McMaster spoke about putting South Carolina first, cutting taxes, strengthening public safety, fixing our roads, and continuing to grow our economy in a responsible, conservative way. His message was clear: “think big, be bold, and keep building a state where families can live, work, and thrive.”

The Healthcare Budget Subcommittee I chair was busy on Wednesday and Thursday hearing state healthcare agency budget requests. We’ll finish our hearings next week and then begin preparation on the healthcare budget to present to the Ways and Means Committee.

On Thursday, I was glad to be a part of a House news conference announcing legislation I cosponsored, H.5071, that focused on improving how South Carolina plans for and delivers road projects.

This proposal is the result of more than nine months of work by the SC-DOT Ad Hoc Committee, including public hearings held across the state and extensive conversations with citizen stakeholders, business owners, local leaders, and transportation experts.

The goals of this effort: cutting red tape, demanding transparency, reducing congestion, and moving road projects faster so families spend less time in traffic and more time at home. This bill reflects a thoughtful, deliberate approach to fixing our roads — one that prioritizes safety, accountability, and responsible growth.

On Thursday, the House overwhelmingly passed the Student Physical Privacy Act (Bathroom Bill), legislation designed to protect student privacy and maintain clear, common-sense standards in our schools. Every child deserves to feel safe, and no student should have to sacrifice their privacy in locker rooms or restrooms.

Several important reforms advanced to strengthen trust and accountability in South Carolina’s judicial system. Legislation moved forward to improve transparency and accountability in how judges are selected, reinforcing the separation of powers and ensuring proper oversight.

We also advanced reforms to improve standards for magistrates, the judges many South Carolinians interact with most often. These changes help ensure those serving on the front lines of local justice meet clear qualifications and are held to consistent standards.

Please 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.

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 good weekend.

On Friday, I was honored to participate in the annual Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Breakfast with my colleagues Senators Stephen Goldfinch and Ronnie Sabb and Rep. Carl Anderson. I appreciate the efforts of the chamber of commerce and the event’s sponsor, the Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors, in helping to keep businesses and the community informed about important legislative issues.

Tax relief and cutting red tape for our small businesses is vital for economic growth and job creation.

On Thursday, I cosponsored the South Carolina Small Business Tax Cut of 2026 Act, which will exempt personal property tax on the first $10,000 of personal property value for small businesses, defined as having sales of $10 million or less or 100 employees or less.

The House-passed Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, which I cosponsored, advanced in the Senate Judiciary Committee, moving us closer to reducing burdensome regulations on job creators. The bill requires a review of regulations and a reduction of the regulatory burden on businesses by at least 25 percent.

We advanced legislation requiring the use of U.S. produced iron and steel, H.4709, in state-funded public works projects. The bill passed out of subcommittee and has been referred to the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee for further consideration.

This legislation is focused on strengthening domestic manufacturing, protecting critical supply chains, and ensuring taxpayer dollars support American workers and industries. As South Carolina continues to grow, measures like this help reinforce a strong, reliable workforce and keep our state competitive.

Protecting children and strengthening parental rights is a top priority. We continued work on two key pieces of legislation of which I cosponsored: the Parental Rights Act, which has been referred to committee, and the South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act, which passed out of the House Judiciary Committee.

Both measures focus on safeguarding student privacy in schools while affirming transparency and parental involvement in their children’s education and healthcare.

The Healthcare Budget Subcommittee I chair was busy on Wednesday and Thursday hearing budget requests from state healthcare providers. This week, the subcommittee will hear from the Departments of Vocational Rehabilitation, Children’s Advocacy, and Aging, the SC Commission for the Blind, University of SC Neurological Hospital and SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare.

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.

I wanted you to know that In November I was honored to be named 2025 Legislator of the Year by the South Carolina Council of Governments. My thanks to the Council of Governments from around the state for this award.

I’m so grateful for the privilege of representing District 108 in the House of Representatives and remain committed to making our district and state the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

I’ve been busy preparing for the 2026 legislative session, which began last week.

I’m honored to again serve on the coveted Ways and Means Committee and as chair of the Healthcare Budget Subcommittee. I’m also honored to again serve in the House leadership as the Chief Majority Whip.

My colleagues and I begin this year with renewed energy and a clear mission: to fight for your freedom, your family, and a more affordable South Carolina.

On Wednesday, the Healthcare Budget Subcommittee I chair heard budget requests from the Departments of Public Health, Health and Human Services, and Social Services. This week, the subcommittee will hear from MUSC, the SC Area Health Education Consortium, newly formed Department of Behavioral Health, and Developmental Disabilities.

Last week, we held a hearing on the bathroom privacy bill, legislation I cosponsored aimed at ensuring boys are not permitted to use girls’ restrooms and locker rooms in schools, restoring common sense, and protecting privacy, safety, and fairness for students.

Last Thursday, a press conference was held in support of the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, another bill I cosponsored, which cuts red tape, improves accountability, and ensures regulations work for, not against, small businesses. This legislation has already passed the House unanimously. We look forward to working with the Senate to get this bill across the finish line this year.

The House Department of Transportation Modernization Ad Hoc Committee continued meeting last week to tackle long-term infrastructure challenges facing our roads and bridges. The committee has been focused on how to modernize and improve the South Carolina Department of Transportation, looking at ways to make the agency more efficient, streamline operations, and prepare for future growth.

The House passed legislation addressing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies to help keep South Carolina’s colleges and universities competitive. The bill protects private donor information from public disclosure, ensuring our schools can fairly recruit and retain student-athletes without putting them at a disadvantage compared to other states.

Again, 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.

Congratulations to Rep. Lee Hewitt on being named Legislator of the Year by the South Carolina Council of Governments!

The Georgetown County Chamber is proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor. Thank you, Rep. Hewitt, for your leadership, dedication, and continued commitment to strengthening our community and our state.

June 9, 2025

Kelly Hammerle
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (VAM-LD)
45600 Woodland Road
Sterling, VA 20166-9216

Dear Ms. Hammerle,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to any efforts to including the South Atlantic zone in the 2025 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

I represent South Carolina House District 108, which is a coastal district along Georgetown and Charleston counties. I’ve heard loud and clear from constituents that they do not want oil and gas drilling off the South Carolina coast because of the very real threat of a drilling disaster and the resulting severe environmental and economic harm it would bring to our area.

All of the municipalities in the district – Pawleys Island, McClellanville, Awendaw and Mt. Pleasant – plus Georgetown County, have passed resolutions opposing offshore oil and gas drilling. State and local leaders have come out against offshore drilling, including Governor Henry McMaster.

It’s clear the coastal areas of South Carolina are very concerned about the impacts of oil spills on the beaches, marine life and the tourism industry, and understandably have taken strong positions opposing drilling. There is no way offshore oil and gas drilling can be conducted that will guarantee no oil spills and no resulting environmental and economic disasters.

The district I represent has beautiful beaches, bays, and estuaries that attract tourism and are also ecologically important. They provide vital habitat for marine life and birds, particularly for juvenile offshore fish that are vital to our commercial and recreational fisheries.

Annually, in ports adjacent to and in the district, commercial fishermen land nearly 1 million pounds of snapper-grouper species. Our state has a $6 billion fishing industry that employs 80,000 people. Our commercial and recreational fishing industries cannot afford an oil spill disaster.

With tourism producing nearly $20 billion and providing one in ten South Carolinians with jobs, we cannot afford to risk harming such a major facet of our economy by playing Russian roulette with oil rigs off our coast. Sooner or later there will be a bullet in the chamber in the form of a major oil spill disaster.

There is simply no place along our coast where drilling makes sense. The short-term monetary benefit is not worth the long-term risks that our communities face.

Sincerely,

Representative Lee Hewitt

On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20-21, the budget conference committee I serve on met to work out the budget bill differences with the Senate. I was honored to be one of the three House members Speaker Murrell Smith appointed to the committee.

The conference committee agreed on a balanced, fiscally conservative state budget that passed the House last Wednesday on an 88-25 vote.

The budget delivers over $1 billion in tax relief, invests in the priorities that matter most, and keeps government accountable to the people who fund it.

While Washington continues to spend recklessly and stumble into shutdowns, we do things differently in South Carolina. We balance our budget every year. We don’t spend money we don’t have. And we put taxpayers first, not bureaucrats or special interests.

This year’s budget proves that commitment. It’s a responsible, conservative plan that:

Delivers Tax Relief: Over $1 billion in direct tax relief, including $290 million in new income tax cuts and $814 million through the Tax Relief Trust Fund to offset property taxes.

Strengthens Education: A $1,500 raise for every public school teacher, raising starting pay to $48,500, now higher than Georgia and North Carolina. We’re expanding summer reading camps, increasing 4K funding, and investing $75 million in high-quality instructional materials. Tuition remains frozen for in-state students.

Supports Law Enforcement: We’re fully funding a School Resource Officer in every public school, increasing pay across law enforcement agencies, and investing in criminal justice initiatives.

Invests in Infrastructure: $200 million for bridge repair, the second installment of our $1 billion commitment. We’re also investing in road safety, hurricane recovery, commercial airports, and water/sewer infrastructure to support our growing population.

Prepares for the Future: We’re replenishing the Disaster Relief and Resilience Reserve Fund, investing in healthcare innovation and mental health treatment, funding cybersecurity and artificial intelligence upgrades across state agencies, and strengthening our military communities and retirement systems.

I’m proud to support this budget and the benefits it brings to South Carolina families. From tax relief to public safety, from school funding to economic development, we’re keeping our promises and building a stronger future for our state.

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.

As the gavel fell at 5 pm last Thursday, the House officially adjourned, bringing the first year of the 2025-2026 Legislative Session to a close.

Although the regular session has now adjourned, the House is expected to reconvene later this month for one final day to finalize the state budget.

I’m honored to be appointed by House Speaker Murrell Smith as one of the three budget conference committee members to work out the budget bill differences with the Senate.

This week was a final sprint to the finish to advance several key priorities.

As a cosponsor, I was glad to see H.4216, a strong, conservative plan to cut income taxes, pass the House on Wednesday.

This bill puts us on the path to eliminate the state income tax altogether without raising property or sales taxes and devotes more than $400 million in year one to immediate tax relief. It lowers the top marginal rate from 6.2% to 5.39%, with a roadmap to reduce that to 1.99% over five years and ultimately eliminate it entirely.

Small businesses across South Carolina, especially bars, restaurants, and VFW posts, have faced unsustainable insurance premiums and the looming threat of massive jury verdicts. I was proud to cosponsor H.3430, a landmark liquor liability bill that will bring real reform and help protect our hospitality industry. The bill was passed by the House on Tuesday and the Senate on Wednesday. It now heads to the Gov. McMaster to be signed into law.

The South Carolina Energy Security Act, another bill I cosponsored, passed the Senate on Wednesday and has been sent to the Governor for his signature. It lays the foundation for a stronger, more reliable energy future, ensuring smarter oversight of utilities, encouraging investment in nuclear and renewable energy, and expands transmission and storage
capacity.

I proudly voted for S.156, critical legislation, which creates the offense of fentanyl-induced homicide, making it a felony to unlawfully provide fentanyl that results in someone’s death. The fentanyl crisis is devastating families across our state. This bill ensures justice for victims and holds drug dealers accountable for the lives they destroy.

I voted in favor of the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, which updates our distracted driving statute by increasing penalties for repeat offenders. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of preventable accidents. This bill helps save lives while respecting individual rights.

I’m proud to report we made major strides on every single one of our Pillars for Progress this session.

I’ll be sure to provide an update on the budget bill once the conference committee’s work is complete.

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

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.