Endorsed by House Speaker Jay Lucas

MURRELLS INLET – Republican Rep. Lee Hewitt Monday announced that he will seek reelection to the S.C. House District 108 seat and that he has the backing of House Speaker Jay Lucas.

“It’s been a real privilege to serve in the S.C. House of Representatives and I’m hopeful district voters will send me back for another term,” Hewitt said. “I’ve been blessed with an outpouring of support and will continue working hard in Columbia representing the district.”

“I will continue to fight for low taxes, better roads, the best education for our children, more jobs, and to protect our natural resources,” Hewitt said. “I share the conservative values of the district and will continue working hard to earn the support of Georgetown and Charleston County voters.”

“There is no better representative for the people of District 108 than Lee Hewitt,” House Speaker Jay Lucas said. “Since 2017, Lee has been a strong advocate for the issues his constituents care most about: lowering taxes, strengthening our economy and protecting our beautiful coast. A vote for Lee is a vote for an experienced and committed conservative leader.”

“I’m honored and grateful to have the full support of Speaker Lucas,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt said his campaign has nearly $75,000 in the bank.

“We’re on target to fund a very good campaign. I’m grateful for all of our campaign donors who have given very generously,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt, 61, was first elected in 2016. He serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and is a House Majority Whip.

Hewitt has lived in Murrells Inlet for over 40 years. He is owner of Garden City Realty and has served as President of the Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors and on the board of the state Association of Realtors.

In 2014, Hewitt was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control Board of Directors.

Hewitt has served as chairman of the Georgetown County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals and on the Georgetown County Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Committee, Grand Strand Area Transportation Committee, and the Southern Evacuation Lifeline Road Task Force.

Hewitt is a charter member of the Murrells Inlet Rotary Club and a founder and current Co-Chairman of the Murrells Inlet 4th of July Boat Parade.

He is a 1982 graduate of the University of South Carolina - Coastal with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Hewitt is an active member of Belin Memorial United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Whitney, have two sons.

With the icy conditions, please stay safe on the roads this weekend. My thanks to our hardworking first responders and utility linemen who are out in this difficult weather.

Snow in the Upstate early this week caused the House Speaker to postpone the start of our session to Wednesday. We focused on budget hearings as various state agencies testified before subcommittees to make requests as deliberations begin over the state budget. The budget will make its way to the House floor in March.

The two bills I had up for hearings were passed out of subcommittee. H. 4504 would cap the sales tax on outboard motors and boat trailers at $500 and H. 3892 would prohibit mining or solid waste management facilities within a certain proximity to a public park or public natural area.

Gov. McMaster gave his State of the State speech on Wednesday evening and I was honored to be chosen to be on the Governor’s Escort Committee that accompanied him in his entrance to the House chambers.

Gov. McMaster illustrated the successes of South Carolina in the past year, indicative of what our state can accomplish when we work together. Then he laid out a bold plan for our state.

The Governor introduced many highlights from his executive budget. These are items that he would like to see the House and Senate include when we pass our state budget. I share many of these sentiments and will work hard to include many of the items the Governor suggested, including the expansion and improvement to roads, bridges, highways, and interstates, tax cuts on ALL income tax brackets, a “rainy day” fund for future economic uncertainties, pay raises for teachers, and fully funding law enforcement, public safety, and other first responders.

I share Gov. McMaster’s pride in our state’s booming economy and business-friendly environment, which makes South Carolina the 10th fastest-growing state in America. And thanks to conservative planning and budgeting, we have the largest budget surplus, the largest rainy-day reserve account balance, and the lowest debt in our state’s history.

Next week, the House will continue subcommittee hearings on the budget.

Unfortunately, the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce had to postpone yesterday’s Legislative Breakfast due to weather and the new date has not yet been set. This annual event features the county legislative delegation of Senators Stephen Goldfinch and Ronnie Sabb and Rep. Carl Anderson and myself talking about issues and legislation and answering questions.

Stay warm and safe. 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! I hope you’re doing well.

Our House of Representatives session began Tuesday and I wanted to give you an update.

I’m honored to again serve on the Ways and Means Committee and as a Majority Whip.

Every decade, our state leaders work together to redraw our state’s legislative districts to accommodate for population shifts and ensure that everyone in our state is being fairly represented. This week we approved a Congressional redistricting plan, which has been sent to the Senate.

Beyond redistricting, the House Republicans will focus on the following for 2022:

This year, South Carolina will receive several billion Federal dollars. Our job is to figure out how to use it wisely through prioritized conservative budgeting and spending.

I believe in basic Republican principles, and that means keeping taxes low. This year, as we prepare and finalize our state budget, I will vote to cut income taxes.

I am dedicated to passing legislation that creates uniformity and consistency in the way elections are run in the state. Through this, we can be sure to uphold the integrity of every single vote cast in South Carolina.

I am committed to giving parents more choices in how to best educate their children through measures like Education Savings Accounts or Tuition Tax Credits.

Next week will be busy with committee hearings. I have two bills I sponsored up for hearings. H. 4504 would cap the sales tax on outboard motors and boat trailers at $500. Currently, you can buy just a boat or a boat, outboard motor and trailer together and the sales tax is capped at $500. It just makes good sense that the cap should apply individually to outboards and trailers.

H. 3892 would prohibit mining or solid waste management facilities within a certain proximity to a public park or public natural area.

Over the next two weeks the House Ways and Means Economic Development Subcommittee I serve on will be conducting budget hearings.

Here’s the link to my official House webpage, where you can find the bills that I have either sponsored or cosponsored, view my voting record, search for bills and access video feeds of the House sessions and committee meetings.

I’m thankful for the opportunity 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’m pleased that last week the legislature overwhelmingly approved the $2 million I sought for badly needed Murrells Inlet dredging. Many of the channels have silted in and are no longer navigable except at higher tides. Our economy hinges on boating and fishing, which requires navigable channels and good, clean water flow to foster our fisheries.

Please click here for news coverage.

I’m also pleased and thankful for the successful 38th annual Murrells Inlet Boat Parade on July 4th. As a co-chair of the parade, it was great to see outstanding participation and turnout on such a beautiful Independence Day. Over the years, the parade has raised tens of thousands of dollars through T-shirt sales to benefit the local Boy Scout troop. This year nearly 3,000 parade T-shirts were sold.

As the legislative session has ended for the year, I wanted to make you aware of these major accomplishments:

• Passed the most conservative budget in South Carolina history, funding only the essential functions, while protecting taxpayers and preparing for weather or health-related disasters.
• Lowered taxes by passing a conformity bill to streamline the state and federal tax code and a bill that allows South Carolina’s small businesses higher tax deductions to be on an equal playing field with big corporations.
• Passed a bill to ensure elections are run fairly across the state by prescribing a consistent process to ensure elections are uniform across all 46 counties, along with accountability measures.
• Passed a Santee Cooper Reform Bill that puts in place checks, balances, and guardrails to maximize the utility’s value with the ultimate goal of protecting customers and taxpayers.
• Worked to improve education by a 75% expansion of the state’s 4-K program and $1,000 raise for every teacher (in addition to a STEP increase) bringing teacher pay in South Carolina above the Southeast average.

While the legislative session has ended, the legislature will reconvene in September to begin work on redistricting, which is required by law every 10 years in conjunction with the census.

It’s an honor 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.

I wanted you to know that the House of Representatives convened for one of the final times this summer last Monday. We met to review and vote on a conference report from the joint Senate-House Budget Conference Committee, which met to iron out differences between the two chambers’ versions of the state budget for the next fiscal year.

We were able to pass the most conservative budget in South Carolina history. This budget funds only the essential functions of the state while protecting taxpayers and preparing for weather or health-related disasters.

Here are some of the budget highlights:

• $50 million in a Preparedness Relief Fund in the case of a natural disaster
• Investment in rebuilding tourism to recover the pandemic’s hardest-hit industry
• 75% expansion of the state’s 4-K program and $1,000 raise for every teacher (in addition to a STEP increase) bringing teacher pay in South Carolina above the Southeast average
• $36 million for the growth of South Carolina’s charter school system
• 2.5% pay raise for state employees
• STEP pay raise for law enforcement officers and PTSD treatment for law enforcement and firefighters

Additionally, I was successful in getting $2 million included in the budget for badly needed Murrells Inlet dredging. Many of the channels have silted in and are no longer navigable except at higher tides.

We’ll return to Columbia tomorrow to take up the Governor’s vetoes. We’ll also return in September to begin work on redistricting, which is required by law every 10 years in conjunction with the census.

It’s an honor to represent District 108 in the House. Thank you so much for your support!

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Rep. Lee Hewitt

Please click here to donate to my reelection campaign.

After casting over 600 roll call votes, this year’s legislative session ended on Thursday.

The House will reconvene briefly in June to finalize the state budget, review conference committee reports, and assess any vetoes to the budget by the Governor. We will also be back in late Summer/early Fall in an effort to complete our once-a-decade task of redistricting.

Meaningful and conservative legislation meant to protect our constitutional rights, cut government spending and regulations, preserve life, secure the integrity of our elections, and better our education system was the focus of this year’s session.

Here are some of the bills that passed this week:

Convention of States: To amend the US Constitution, Congress can propose changes, but so can a Convention of the States. We passed a bill to join the list of states who wish to participate in the convention process.

Exceptional Need Tax Credits: The House and Senate passed a bill that allows for public charities to expend extra money on children with exceptional needs and allow for money spent on these children to be claimed as a tax credit.

Tax Conformity: This week the tax conformity bill passed the House and Senate, which aligns the state and federal tax codes. This year, many people filed for unemployment due to the pandemic. This bill exempts some of this income, ensuring people are not penalized for the hardships they faced.

Beach Access Parking: A bill passed on Thursday and is now headed to Gov. McMaster’s desk that requires a municipality receive prior approval from the SCDOT before establishing, altering or restricting the use of parking facilities on a state highway. This ensures that everyone can afford a day at the beach.

Left Lane Driving: The House adopted a conference report on a bill that says slower traffic on South Carolina’s roads must move over for faster vehicles on 2+ lane highways.

Progress is still being made on COVID vaccinations. 44% of South Carolinians have started the COVID vaccination process. 35% are fully vaccinated. Over 3.1 million vaccine doses have been given to South Carolina residents to date. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

It’s an honor 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 wanted you to know it’s Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you to South Carolina’s invaluable educators. Not only do they teach, but many serve as great role models for our children. Thank you for all that you do!

With just one week left in the legislative session, the House wasted no time this week, taking up some of our state’s most pressing issues, such as Santee Cooper, the death penalty, and bringing new business to South Carolina.

Under current law, those convicted of a heinous crime and sentenced to death are likely to spend the rest of their life waiting on death row due to the lack of availability of lethal injection drugs. On Wednesday, the House passed a bill that allows electrocution or a firing squad when lethal injection is not available as we work to find the most humane and quick way to serve justice.

The issue of reforming Santee Cooper has been ongoing for years, and this week, the House passed amendments to a bill that outlines reform, governance, and a sale process. This bill prescribes a process for how the agency should operate, allowing for oversight from the government and transparency for ratepayers. The bill will now go to a conference committee to find compromise on the issue between the House and Senate.

In order to address ongoing workforce shortages throughout the state, Thursday Gov. McMaster directed the Department of Employment and Workforce discontinue South Carolina’s participation in all federal, pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs. This takes effect on June 30th. There are currently 81,684 open positions in the state. With this, I’m hopeful South Carolinians will be encouraged to get back to work.

43% of South Carolinians have started the COVID vaccination process. 33% are fully vaccinated. Nearly 3 million vaccine doses have been given to South Carolina residents to date. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

Finally, as co-chairman of the Murrells Inlet Boat Parade, I’m pleased to announce that the 38th annual parade will take place at 3 pm on Sunday, July 4th. This year’s theme is, Stars Stripes and Fireworks. For more information, click here to visit the boat parade Facebook page.

It’s an honor 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’ve had a good week.

The pandemic has highlighted the urgency of many educational issues. Last week, Gov. McMaster signed a House bill that allows for more “Schools of Innovation'' to arise around the state, giving students more opportunities to succeed. We also sent a bill to the Governor’s desk that allows Palmetto Fellow Scholarship recipients to use their scholarship at a technical college, which is currently not allowed.

Last week, the Senate had ‘Budget Week’, reviewing, debating, and amending the budget the House sent them a few weeks ago. When the Senate returns their version of the budget back to us, we’ll meet to review their amendments.

Though this year’s legislative session officially ends on May 13th, the Speaker of the House introduced a Sine Die resolution that schedules us back in the capitol in June to finalize the state budget, review conference committee reports, and assess any vetoes to the budget by the Governor. We will also be back in late Summer/early Fall in an effort to complete our once-a-decade task of redistricting.

On Thursday the Coastal Observer published a nice editorial supporting my call for in person meetings on the Waccamaw Neck Hwy 17 corridor plan. From the editorial:

“Don’t get us started talking about the traffic. Of course, there’s nothing Waccamaw Neck residents would rather talk about. State Rep. Lee Hewitt wants to keep us talking, but in a way that is both meaningful and productive...While many people have become comfortable with the virtual meeting format over the past, Rep. Hewitt is right in pointing out that they come up short of providing the level of engagement required.”

Click here for the full editorial.

I’m pleased to have sponsored a bill to recognize and declare May 4-5 as Palmetto Giving Day in South Carolina. Palmetto Giving Day is a 36-hour online giving event that provides the community with an opportunity to give back to participating nonprofit organizations in Georgetown County. In order to help qualified nonprofits achieve their goal, the Bunnelle Foundation and others have agreed to match a portion of the donations.

As we are navigating through the pandemic, these nonprofits need our support. I encourage you to visit PalmettoGivingDay.org to learn more about the event and donate to the charities of your choice.

It’s an honor 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.

“While many people have become comfortable with the virtual meeting format over the past, Rep. Hewitt is right in pointing out that they come up short of providing the level of engagement required.”

More public input would help study

DON’T GET US STARTED talking about the traffic. Of course, there’s nothing Waccamaw Neck residents would rather talk about. State Rep. Lee Hewitt wants to keep us talking, but in a way that is both meaningful and productive.

The specific topic is the update to the 2003 study of the Highway 17 corridor on the Waccamaw Neck. It was completed over the past year to include a list of $53.3 million worth of projects proposed for the next 20 years. Those were the topic of a virtual meeting earlier this month, and normally that last round of public review would be the end of the process. These are not normal times. While many people have become comfortable with the virtual meeting format over the past, Rep. Hewitt is right in pointing out that they come up short of providing the level of engagement required. Putting 70 people in a chat room can’t compare with putting them together in an actual room for a conversation.

The updated corridor study, prepared by the firm AECOM under a contract with the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study, identifies areas of particular concern for traffic flow and safety. It also highlights how traffic planning has changed since 2003. In the original study, widening the highway to six lanes was seen as inevitable. Now, the use of “reduced conflict intersection” design is seen as more effective and economical.

Raise your hand if you can sketch out a reduced conflict intersection on the back of a napkin so your neighbors can understand what it looks like. The concept was explained well in the virtual meeting, but it deserves a wider audience if it is going to be the foundation for improvements on Highway 17.

One of the major improvements listed in the 2003 study was the installation of the raised median on Highway 17 through the Pawleys Island business district. It didn’t come up for funding for nearly a decade. When it did, the project drew complaints about both the design and the level of public input. To avoid repeating that scenario, there needs to be both more engagement before the update is formally adopted and ongoing engagement afterward.

The immediate obstacle isn’t time or interest, but money. The $100,000 contract with AECOM has been completed. The cost of filling in the gap in the process created by the pandemic seems to be a worthy target for some of the $12 million in COVID relief funds Georgetown County expects to receive. It was the county that requested the corridor study update. The county will also have to act to implement its recommendations. The public confidence in and support for the study shouldn’t be a victim of the pandemic.

Just three weeks left in the legislative session.

This week, several key issues moved quickly in committee. The overall theme of the week was getting our state back to normal on the heels of the pandemic. In the coming weeks, we’ll be spending less time in committee and more time on the House floor, trying to pass all necessary legislation before adjournment on May 13th.

I was proud to support the COVID Liability Safe Harbor Act, which passed the House, and will soon go to the Governor’s desk. We created retroactive liability protections for health care providers and businesses that follow public health guidance in response to the COVID pandemic.

My call for more public input via in person meetings on the proposed “improvements” for the Highway 17 corridor through the Waccamaw Neck received news coverage this week. Click here for the news report.

Some of the recommendations are for additional lanes, closing median openings, eliminating left turns -- forcing U turns, new signals, lane restriping, vegetation maintenance, adaptive signal timing, and adding roundabouts at intersections on major feeder roads. These proposals, if implemented, will significantly impact area residents and businesses.

A Post & Courier editorial this week praised my efforts to pass a bill that would prohibit SCDHEC from permitting mining or landfills within two miles of a public park or public natural area. The bill is in response to constituent concerns about efforts to expand a mining operation in Awendaw near the Francis Marion National Forest and the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. From the editorial:

“H.3892 represents a positive first step toward updating South Carolina’s rules on where mining operations are allowed; at the very least, the bill should trigger a larger conversation on balancing the benefits of mining with legitimate concerns over environmental degradation and our quality of life.”

Click here for the full editorial.

40% of South Carolinians have started the COVID vaccination process. 28% are fully vaccinated. Nearly 2.7 million vaccine doses have been given to South Carolina residents to date. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

It’s an honor 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.