Last week was the 12 th week of the 2024 legislative session. There are 6 weeks remaining before the legislature adjourns on May 9, 2024.
Here are the highlights from last week’s Senate action:
COMPTROLLER GENERAL – The Senate passed S. 95 2023-2024 Bill 95: Constitutional amendment proposed, Comptroller General, a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to eliminate the elected office of the Comptroller General. The Comptroller General is the state’s top accountant and chief fiscal watchdog. The Comptroller supervises state spending, keeps the state’s books, and maintains accounting controls over state agencies. It is not a policy position and really lends itself to a professional who should be hired and fired based on professional performance rather than serving in an elected position. If the House and voters adopt the constitutional change, the office would still exist with the Comptroller being appointed by the governor with advice and consent of the senate. If 2/3 of the House of Representatives vote in favor of the change, the amendment will be on the ballot for voters to consider in November.
DELINQUENT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAX PAYMENTS – The Senate passed H.3992 2023-2024
Bill 3992: Delinquent unemployment compensation tax rates a bill that would authorize the Department of Employment and Workforce to work with employers who miss an unemployment tax payment by requiring an installment agreement rather than a major penalty. The unemployment tax rate for employers can change each year, and it is not uncommon for some employers who use tax payment software to make the first payment at the old rate rather than the newly imposed rate. Current law requires a
significant penalty in that situation. This bill would allow those employers to enter into an installment plan with DEW to pay the required amount plus a penalty and interest, but it would not impose the most severe penalty unless the employer violates the installment agreement. I supported the bill. The bill will now return to the House to consider Senate amendments.
REGULATION OF VAPING PRODUCTS – The Senate passed S. 994 2023-2024 Bill 994: Vapor products, a bill that would regulate the sale and marketing of vaping products. The bill is designed to create a registry of vaping products in an effort to crack down on marketing flavors to children, which has led to a real problem with vaping products in schools. The House will now consider the bill.
LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS
On Monday afternoon, I attended a funeral for Billy Parker, a longtime, former sheriff in Edgefield County.
On Monday night, I held a town hall meeting at Saluda Elementary School. This was my 7th town hall meeting this year.
On Wednesday night, I attended the annual dinner of the Homebuilders’ Association of South Carolina. I was honored to receive the Hammer & Trowel Award for the legislator of the year.
CONSTITUENT INTERESTS
SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT has an interactive map to allow citizens to see the road and bridge projects going on around the state. You can see that map here.
How is the gas tax being used? – SCDOT’s website allows you to view a detailed revenue statement and project list that is funded by the Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund (IMTF). SCDOT updates this site monthly as the revenue comes in. You can see that report here.
WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 12:00, Wednesdays at 1:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.
OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Following the 2020 Census, the legislature redrew House and Senate districts. The new Senate districts will go into effect with the 2024 general election. Our district, Senate District 25, consists of all of Edgefield and McCormick Counties and parts of Aiken, Lexington, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here South Carolina Full Judiciary Plan. Senate District 25 is, appropriately, the peach-colored district along the western, middle part of the state. You can zoom in to see precincts and street names.
VOTING RECORD – If you’d like to see how I’ve voted on issues, go here. You can always check to see how I vote by going to my website, www.senatormassey.com, and clicking on the “Voting Record” tab.
SPEAKING WITH GROUPS – Several groups, clubs, and classes around our Senate district have invited me to attend their meetings and provide legislative updates. If you would like for me to come speak with your group, please let me know.
EMAIL UPDATES – If you know of people in or around District 25 who do not receive my updates but would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me. You can also forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for the updates at www.senatormassey.com.