I hope you’re well. Here’s my legislative update.

Last Tuesday, the joint House and Senate ad hoc committee to study river flooding in Georgetown and Horry counties met. We heard testimony from Duke Energy and Cube Energy, which have dams in North Carolina that are upstream of our rivers, about water released from the dams and its impact on our area.

On Wednesday, the House passed a joint resolution that requires all school districts in South Carolina to give an option for 5 days a week, in-person learning by April 26th.

Ensuring that our children are educated about our Constitution, the Federalist Papers, the Declaration of Independence, and other important American documents is the first step in shaping civically responsible citizens. On Thursday, the House passed a bill that requires students in public high schools, and in some cases, undergraduate students, to study these constitutional documents as a requirement for graduation.

H. 3939 received a favorable vote in a Judiciary Subcommittee meeting on Thursday morning. This bill extends workers compensation for law enforcement officers in deadly-force situations to PTSD, or other injury caused by stress or mental illness. It is important that we provide officers with these lifesaving resources, so they can safely serve our communities.

The Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment Registry Act, passed out of a Judiciary Subcommittee on Thursday morning. This act aims to protect our most vulnerable, elderly populations from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This bill would create a registry for these populations, creating further protections for them in places like nursing homes.

On Saturday, I had the privilege of speaking at the Georgetown County Republican Party Convention, providing delegates with a legislative update. My congratulations to county GOP chair Karol Anderson and the rest of the party leadership for a very successful convention.

All South Carolinians age 16 and up are eligible for COVID vaccinations. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

38% of South Carolinians have started the vaccination process. 24% are fully vaccinated. Nearly 2.5 million vaccine doses have been given to South Carolina residents to date.

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.

The big news from last week’s legislative session is that the state’s revenue projections, despite the COVID pandemic, are higher than expected and will cause the House to revisit our budget bill.

The SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office released revised revenue estimates that show $1.3 billion in new non-recurring revenue, which includes a $647 million current budget surplus, and $385 million in recurring new general fund revenue.

The Ways and Means Committee will look at writing a new budget bill that considers some needed state employee pay raises and legitimate state agency needs, while working to eliminate wasteful spending and ensuring a balanced budget.

The House passed its annual tax conformity bill that puts the state and federal tax codes in line. This is an important bill to ensure that when you go to file your taxes, our state rules match those of the federal government.

This year we had a very large amount of people file for unemployment in SC due to the pandemic conditions and shut-down. This bill exempts the first $10,000 of benefits these folks received from state tax income, ensuring that they are not penalized for the hardships they involuntarily faced.

Last Thursday was crossover day in the legislature. Any legislation that clears either the House or Senate after crossover day 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.

House Speaker Jay Lucas appointed me to serve on a joint House and Senate ad hoc committee to study river flooding in Georgetown and Horry counties caused by Duke Energy dam released water. The committee will hold its first meeting this Tuesday.

The Georgetown County Legislative Delegation (comprised of Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, Sen. Ronnie Sabb, Rep. Carl Anderson and myself) met last Monday to make appointment recommendations to Gov. McMaster for various county boards and commissions.

All South Carolinians age 16 and up are eligible for COVID vaccinations. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

34.5% of South Carolinians have started the vaccination process. 20% are fully vaccinated. 2,169,505 vaccines have been given to South Carolina residents to date.

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 wish you a happy Easter weekend.

This was furlough week for the House of Representatives, so no trip to Columbia for me. It was a great opportunity this week to meet and talk with constituents in the district.

A looming issue for the Waccamaw Neck is the Highway 17 corridor and how to improve it to handle increases in traffic. Last Thursday, I participated in an important virtual meeting held by the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study (GSATS) to present the results of a draft corridor study and to take public comments. Click here for news coverage.

This portion of Highway 17 is currently servicing 30,500 to 47,000 vehicles per day and is expected to serve up to nearly 72,000 vehicles per day by 2040.

Some of the recommendations are 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.

I urge you to click here to review the corridor study information and let GSATS (I’m on the policy committee) know your concerns. Send comments on the Draft Highway 17 Corridor Study to [email protected]. The deadline for comments is this Friday, April 9th.

The Georgetown County Legislative Delegation meeting that was scheduled for last Monday was cancelled and is now scheduled for noon this Monday, April 5th, at the Howard Auditorium located at 1610 Hawkins Street in Georgetown.

The delegation (comprised of Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, Sen. Ronnie Sabb, Rep. Carl Anderson and myself) will meet to discuss appointments to various county boards and commissions, such as the Board of Elections, Transportation Committee, Water and Sewer District Board, and Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District Board. The meeting is open to the public.

All South Carolinians age 16 and up are eligible for COVID vaccinations. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

30.5% of South Carolinians have started the vaccination process. 16.5% are fully vaccinated. 1,880,362 vaccines have been given to South Carolina residents to date.

On Tuesday, the House starts the second half of the legislative session. I anticipate a busy week starting with a Ways and Means Committee meeting on Tuesday.

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.

This week, the House of Representatives took up the 2021-2022 state budget. I’m happy to report that this may be the most conservative budget yet.

In short, this budget funds only necessary government services while recognizing that we are still in uncertain pandemic conditions. Although we expect state revenue to go up (as COVID-19 cases continue to fall), we cannot bank on that quite yet… and as such, we must be prepared by being conservative with our state’s resources.

After hours of debate and casting 220 votes, the House passed a balanced budget that prioritizes a renewed dedication to improving education, funding resources for law enforcement, and expanding broadband internet access.

The House will not meet next week. This gives us a week off - time to be back in our districts, regroup and refocus after an intense 11 weeks of session. By furloughing next week, we’ll save taxpayers over $50,000.

This Monday, March 29th at 2 pm the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation (comprised of Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, Sen. Ronnie Sabb, Rep. Carl Anderson and myself) will meet to discuss appointments to various county boards and commissions, such as the Board of Elections, Transportation Committee, Water and Sewer District Board, and Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District Board. The meeting is at the Goldfinch Winslow Law Firm, 1119 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island. The public is welcome to attend.

There will be an important virtual public meeting this Thursday, April 1st at 6 pm to present the findings of the Draft US 17 Corridor Study in Georgetown County and receive comments. The project study area covers the Waccamaw Neck area of Georgetown County from the Waccamaw River bridge to the Horry County line. Among other recommendations, this Grand Strand Area Transportation Study project is recommending widening Highway 17 to six lanes from Bellamy Avenue in Murrells Inlet north to Myrtle Beach.

Click here for the link to the Zoom meeting.
Click here for the corridor study and supporting materials.
Comments can also be sent to: [email protected]

This Wednesday, March 31st, all South Carolinians aged 16 and up are eligible for COVID vaccinations. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

26.4% of South Carolina citizens have started the vaccination process. 14.2% are fully vaccinated. 1,629,77 vaccines have been given to South Carolina residents.

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.

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee I serve on was busy considering a lot of legislation.

On Wednesday, the Property Tax Subcommittee met to consider bills to provide property tax exemptions for manufacturers and renewable energy resource properties. We also considered a bill concerning property tax installment payments.

The full Ways and Means Committee met on Thursday to consider 14 bills, ranging from tax issues and S.C. Workforce Industry Needs Scholarships to abandoned building revitalization.

On Tuesday, the bill I cosponsored to address the sustainability of our important flounder fishery, H. 3957, passed the House by a vote of 106 to 3. The legislation is an effort to rebuild the depleted flounder stock, while keeping the fishery open year-round. The bill, supported by SCDNR, now goes to the Senate for consideration. Click here for Coastal Conservation Association praise of the bill.

A House Judiciary subcommittee passed S. 147, legislation that protects businesses operating in accordance with health guidelines from liability associated with COVID. This legislation is very important to the business community and helps us get South Carolina back to work.

Next week is budget week in the House. We’ll meet for four days, usually running into the late evening hours, debating and voting on the state budget for 2012-2022.

The budget will be built on the foundation of protecting taxpayers, a renewed commitment to being resourceful and efficient, funding core functions of state government, and providing value for every dollar we spend. There is also a new sense of awareness and preparedness for disasters, whether we face a weather-related natural disaster or health emergency.

South Carolina is still in phase 1B of the COVID vaccination process. Click here to find out if you qualify for a vaccine. Click here to find a vaccination provider.

23.1% of South Carolina citizens have started the vaccination process. 12.8% are fully vaccinated. 1,451,957 vaccines have been given to South Carolina residents.

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.

This week, I voted in favor of legislation, H. 3444, regarding our state's election laws. This legislation has two goals: one, to maintain the integrity of each and every vote cast, and two, to ensure elections are run consistently across the state. After the elections of 2020, it became clear that there were discrepancies in the way each county handled votes. Simply put, we learned that counties were employing inconsistent processes, which is unacceptable.

I voted for the Religious Freedom Act, legislation that reinforces our First Amendment Right to worship, even during a State of Emergency. It deems religious services essential and protects our ability to worship in times of crisis when we need it most.

On Thursday, the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee approved the bill, H. 3957, I cosponsored to address the sustainability of our important flounder fishery. The bill should hit the House floor for a vote very soon.

This week, our state began the transition into Phase 1B, which makes a new group of individuals eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination: people 55 and older, teachers, law enforcement personnel, store clerks, and other at-risk individuals. Click here to locate a vaccine provider.

As of March 11th, 1,244,565 doses of the vaccine have been administered in the state.

In response to concerns about the poor surface condition of the Sampit River bridge in Georgetown, I contacted SCDOT Director Christy Hall to get the bridge assessed and repaired. SCDOT engineers found no structural issues. Surface repairs will take place as soon as possible.

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.

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee I serve on worked diligently to craft a 2021-2022 state budget. The committee unanimously passed a conservative budget bill that will likely hit the House floor the week of March 22nd for debate. We took into consideration the recommendations made in Gov. McMaster’s executive budget that focus on COVID relief, pay raises for law enforcement and rebuilding our state’s reserve fund.

The budget bill recognizes the uncertainties caused by the pandemic. It also invests millions of dollars in K-12 education and our state’s struggling hospitality industry to recover from devastating COVID impacts.

On Wednesday, I presented the bill I cosponsored to address the sustainability of our important flounder fishery, H. 3957, to the House Wildlife Subcommittee. The bill is an effort to rebuild the depleted flounder stock, while keeping the fishery open year-round. It reduces the daily bag limit to five fish per person (ten per boat) and creates a slot size limit of 16 to 20 inches with an allowance for one “trophy fish” over 20 inches per person (two per boat maximum).

The bill was passed out of the subcommittee with a favorable report and now heads to the full House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee for consideration.

This week, the Governor announced that starting this Monday, March 8th, the following groups may schedule an appointment to receive their COVID vaccine:

*Anyone over the age of 55.

*People 16 and over who have a high-risk medical condition.

*Teachers, store clerks, law enforcement and other frontline jobs that put an individual within 6 ft of other people for more than 15 minutes.

Click here to locate a vaccine provider.

As of March 4th, over 995,309 doses of the COVID vaccination have been given in South Carolina. This is due to the hard work and sacrifice made by volunteers, medical professionals, the National Guard, and many other folks in our state. I’m proud and thankful for the progress we continue to make and the fellowship our state has shown during these tough times.

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 hope all is well. Here’s my legislative report for the week.

On Monday, I was privileged to participate in the East Cooper Republican Club’s State of the State legislative panel, where area legislators provide an update on legislation and important issues and take questions. It was a great opportunity to hear from Charleston County constituents.

This week, the House Ways and Means Economic Development Subcommittee I sit on met to consider legislation I cosponsored that would authorize the use of funds from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and determine how the funds would be distributed to eligible renters. This U.S. Dept. of Treasury program makes available $25 billion to states to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID pandemic.

There were a series of bills in the House Judiciary Committee to reform the election system in our state. Currently, our state’s election process is a confusing patchwork – each region of our state has a unique system and there is no central authority to cover the cracks and holes that exist in the system. These bills aim to streamline and structure our state’s election system, preserving the integrity of every citizen’s vote.

During the nationwide shutdowns of the COVID pandemic, churchgoers of all religions were denied the ability to gather and worship. We deserve the right to make that decision within our religious bodies. The South Carolina Religious Freedoms Act that was introduced this week, protects the right to hold religious services, even during a state of emergency.

This week, a legislative oversight committee met with leaders from SCDHEC, MUSC and Prisma Hospital systems on COVID vaccinations. The meeting allowed members to get a pulse on where we are, where we are going, and how we can better work together to vaccinate South Carolina. Clearly, our state is still not getting its fair share of the vaccine.

Currently, frontline healthcare workers and anyone 65 or older is eligible to receive the vaccine. Click here to find a vaccine location near you.

Click here to see the flow chart of future vaccine eligibility based on the availability of vaccine.

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 hope you’re doing well. Here’s my legislative update for the week.

The focus of the House of Representatives, now and over the next several weeks, is on improving education, reviewing and restructuring the Governor’s powers, and developing a fiscally sound state budget.

On Monday, I was privileged to attend the South Carolina Beach Advocates’ annual meeting on the Isle of Palms. I participated in a panel of legislators to provide the group with a legislative update and outlook for our beaches. My thanks to Senator Stephen Goldfinch and Representatives Joe Bustos and Spenser Wetmore for their participation in the panel.

I very much appreciate the efforts of SC Beach Advocates to educate the public, governmental authorities, and elected officials as to the environmental, economic, and social impact of our beaches and inlets.

Thank you to the frontline workers and healthcare professionals for their hard work and dedication in performing COVID vaccinations.

Here are some recent updates and developments concerning vaccinations:

• As of February 8th, people aged 65+ began receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Click here to make an appointment.

• On February 10th, 17 CVS Pharmacies throughout the state began offering over 15,000 COVID vaccinations to eligible individuals. Click here for the CVS locations and to make an appointment.

• To date, SC has received 970,250 vaccinations from the Federal government; 548,214 have been given.

On Thursday, Deborah Whelan, a Pawleys Island constituent, was recognized by the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation with the National Citizen Scientist Champion Award for her commitment to Alzheimer’s research. I sponsored a House resolution that passed unanimously honoring Deborah for her very impressive efforts in fighting this terrible disease. Click here for the resolution.

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.

We’re a month into the 2021 legislative session and progress is being made in fighting COVID.

As of February 2nd, South Carolina ranks 5th in the nation in completed vaccinations. This is attributed to the hard work and collaboration of frontline workers, healthcare professionals, DHEC, and the Governor. Despite the hard work we have seen, we still have room to improve.

Starting this Monday, February 8th, any South Carolina resident age 65 or older can begin scheduling their appointment to receive the COVID vaccine. Click here for more information.

It was announced this week that 17 South Carolina CVS Pharmacies will be offering over 15,000 COVID vaccinations to eligible individuals beginning February 11th. Appointments will be available as early as February 9th. Click here to find a location near you.

As of Thursday, 777,250 vaccinations have been received for distribution from the federal government; 439,888 vaccinations have been put in arms.

Education improvement remains a top priority. Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been a challenge for educators, parents, and students. This has also brought many areas of weakness in education to our attention.

Last year, we began an overhaul of education with a few large bills. This year, we’re breaking down the bills. Through this, I’m hopeful that more legislation will pass, and we can get students to where they need to be. This week I was proud to vote in favor of legislation that does the following:

• Reduces the amount of literacy screening and testing for Kindergarten-3rd grade.
• Revises the criteria for retention ensuring students are reading on grade level before promotion.
• Provides reading and literacy coaches to schools who have below average achievement in English/Language arts.
• Establishes “Schools of Innovation” in multiple South Carolina school districts to allow for more flexible models.

On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Economic Development Budget Subcommittee I sit on met to hear budget requests from state agencies. I approach these meetings by keeping the interests of taxpayers at the forefront to ensure state spending is cost effective and not wasteful.

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.