I hope you’re doing well.
This week the House of Representatives worked to finish the second week of the special session and the final legislative session of the year. We worked closely with the Senate and Gov. McMaster to ensure necessary COVID relief funds were passed.
Three bills I cosponsored passed this week:
H. 4431: Business License Tax Reform
This long overdue legislation reforms the way businesses are taxed and allows business owners tax relief while creating a more standardized application process.
H. 3780: The Broadband Accessibility Act
This bill helps expand broadband internet access in rural communities via the state’s electric cooperatives, allowing crucial access to virtual school, job training, and telemedicine.
S. 1071: Firefighter Cancer Healthcare Benefit Plan
This bill will help cover insurance for firefighters if they are diagnosed with cancer. Before this legislation, South Carolina was one of the few states that did not provide this support to firefighters.
This week, the House met with the Senate one last time to finalize spending details for the second round of the federal COVID relief funds for South Carolina. The largest portion of the funds, $420 million, will be used to replenish the state unemployment fund, which has been largely depleted since March.
When the pandemic forced the session to a screeching halt in mid-March, it also stopped much of our legislative agenda from moving forward. This agenda included massive education reform, the fate of Santee Cooper, and of course the 2020-2021 budget that included among other things raises for teachers. I am hopeful that starting in January we will be able to accomplish everything we had to set aside this year.
Just a reminder that the November 3rd election is just around the corner. Absentee voting by mail or in-person is available. In-person absentee voting starts on October 5th.
Click here for how to vote absentee.
Click here to check your voter registration including the location of your polling place.
I hope this information is helpful. Your vote is very important.
It’s an honor to represent District 108. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt