Last week was the 15th week of the 2019 legislative session. This week is the final week of the 2019 regular session, as the General Assembly will adjourn at 5:00 p.m. on May 9. Here are the highlights from last week in the Senate:

SANTEE COOPER – The Senate continued discussion of the future of Santee Cooper. On Thursday the Senate amended H. 4287 and returned it to the House of Representatives. The amended version creates a confidential process whereby the Department of Administration will hire experts to solicit bids from companies interested in buying Santee Cooper and from companies interested in managing Santee Cooper.

Additionally, Santee Cooper will be required to submit a proposal as to how it would reform and reorganize if the General Assembly elects not to sell or hire a manager. Central Electric Cooperative, the entity that contracts with Santee Cooper to sell power to all electric cooperatives across the state, would be required to negotiate with all bidders to create a new service contract.

Upon completion of that process, the experts would recommend one potential buyer and one potential manager to the General Assembly along with Santee Cooper’s reform proposal. The General Assembly would then debate which of those three options to choose. I do not expect this process will be completed before the end of 2019.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

The last week of the legislative session is always chaotic, and I expect that to be the case this week, as well. That is especially the case this year because the Senate spent the last two weeks focused only on Santee Cooper. Here are a couple issues that I expect to receive a lot of discussion:

ENERGY FREEDOM ACT – I have heard from a number of folks who have received mailers about the South Carolina Energy Freedom Act, H. 3659. The bill would allow for a larger number of rooftop solar panels and expand opportunities for large industrial solar projects that we have seen across the state.

TAX BREAKS FOR THE CAROLINA PANTHERS – You have probably heard that the Carolina Panthers have expressed interest in moving their headquarters and practice facilities to Rock Hill. To do that, the Panthers have asked for job development tax credits to help pay for infrastructure needs and the completion of a new interchange on I-77. I expect the bill to come up this week, and it will likely receive a heated debate.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 14th week of the 2019 legislative session. There are 2 weeks left before the General Assembly adjourns on May 9. Here are the highlights from last week in the Senate:

RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES AT HOUSING AUTHORITIES – The Senate passed S. 506, a bill that would allow legislative delegations to intervene and suspend housing authority commissioners if residents of a housing authority have been subjected to unreasonably hazardous conditions.

This bill is in response to a terrible incident at the Columbia Housing Authority earlier this year where gas leaks led to the death of two residents. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SHERIFFS – The Senate passed H. 3951, a bill that would update the statute that outlines qualifications for sheriffs. The bill resulted from a lawsuit following the 2016 election in McCormick County and would ensure that Sheriff Clarke Stearns would not face additional legal action. The bill will now be returned to the House.

SANTEE COOPER – The Senate spent most of last week debating the future of Santee Cooper. The discussion has centered on whether the state should sell Santee Cooper to a private utility, hire another utility to manage Santee Cooper, or keep the state-owned utility while instituting significant reforms. I hope the Senate will decide on a path forward this week. If you have suggestions, please let me know. I will keep you updated on the progress of the debate.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 13th week of the 2019 legislative session. There are 3 weeks left before the General Assembly adjourns on May 9.

Senate action last week was devoted to debate on the 2019-2020 State Budget. Here are the highlights:

• The 19-20 General Fund totals more than $8.2 billion. That includes increases in $498 million in recurring revenue and $344 million in one-time revenue from 2018-2019. The total state budget – General Fund, federal funds, other funds (fines, fees, tuition, etc) – totals just over $29.5 billion.
• ​$15 million to increase the Base Student Cost.
• $159 million to increase teacher pay. The statewide minimum salary would be set at $35,000 (up from $32,000 this year). 4% increase for all teachers with at least 4 years’ experience. Teachers with less than 4 years’ experience would receive more than 4% depending on education levels.
• $65 million to help with capital improvements in poor, rural school districts.
• $509 million from the SC Lottery to various scholarships and educational programs, including $19.4 million for new school buses.
• $17 million to provide free technical college for low-income students statewide.
• $36 million in additional funding to universities to mitigate tuition increases.
• Maintains 2018-2019 funding for John De La Howe School.
• Nearly $8 million for pay increases for judges, solicitors, and public defenders.
• $61.4 million to increase pay for state employees by 2% plus an additional $600 bonus for employees who earn less than $70,000/year.
• A little more than $2 million for the 2020 presidential primary.
• $61 million to provide a $50.00 rebate to income tax filers.
• $162 million to the Capital Reserve Fund.
• $406 million to the General Reserve Fund.

If you have questions about specific items in the budget, please let me know.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

SANTEE COOPER – The Senate will begin debate on the future of Santee Cooper on Tuesday. I expect extended discussion about selling Santee Cooper, hiring another utility to manage Santee Cooper, and keeping Santee Cooper but instituting significant reforms.

I do not expect a final vote next week, as the discussion could very well last several days. If you have suggestions, please let me know. I will keep you updated on the progress of the debate.

K-12 EDUCATION REFORM – A subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee has completed its work on the comprehensive reform legislation. The full Education Committee will consider the legislation on Wednesday, April 24.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 14th week of the 2019 legislative session. There are 4 weeks left before the General Assembly adjourns on May 9. Here are the highlights from Senate floor action from last week.

CONSOLIDATION OF SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS – South Carolina has more than 80 school districts, resulting in the duplication of many administrative services. Many of the smallest districts are in rural areas that consistently struggle with financial management and student achievement.

To help alleviate those issues, the Senate passed S. 203, a bill that would require school districts with fewer than 1,500 students in the most economically challenged counties to consolidate with another district in their county. Based on current population, the bill would affect districts in Clarendon, Barnwell, Bamberg, and Hampton counties. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

TAX CREDITS FOR PORT USAGE – The Senate passed H. 439, a bill that would give companies along the Georgia border tax credits to use South Carolina’s port when shipping goods overseas. The purpose is to encourage use of the South Carolina port rather than the port in Savannah. The House will now consider the bill.

CHILD ABUSE – The Senate passed S. 189, a bill that would add torture to the list of offenses for which the Family Court could terminate a person’s parental rights. The bill will now go to the House.

ENFORCEMENT OF STATE LAW BY FEDERAL OFFICIALS – The Senate passed S. 413, a bill that would authorize Naval Criminal Investigative Service Agents to enforce state law when requested by local law enforcement agencies or when someone commits a state crime in their presence. The bill will now go to the House.

RESTRICTIONS ON DRONE FLIGHTS – The Senate passed S. 180, a bill that would prohibit the flying of drones within 500 feet of a military installation or the Savannah River Site unless authorized by the facility’s manager. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

RESTRICTIONS ON CHILDCARE WORKERS – The Senate passed S. 595, a bill that would prohibit people who are registered on a federal or state sex offender registry or a child abuse registry from working in childcare facilities. The House will now consider the bill.

FORGIVING MISSED SCHOOL DAYS – The Senate passed H. 3929, a resolution that would forgive some of the days missed by coastal school districts because of hurricanes and flooding in September. These districts have already made up more missed days than would typically be required. The resolution will now go to Governor McMaster.

THREATS OF MASS SHOOTINGS – The Senate passed S. 276, a bill that would create a new crime of threatening mass shootings or destruction of a church, school, or other public gathering place. If a person is charged under this section, the bond-setting judge would be authorized to require a mental evaluation as a condition of the bond. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR ALCOHOL SERVERS – The Senate passed S. 342, a bill that would require those who serve alcohol to receive training to avoid serving underage or intoxicated patrons. The House will now consider the bill.

MISREPRESENTATION OF SERVICE ANIMALS – The Senate passed S. 281, a bill that would make it unlawful for a person to misrepresent that an animal in his possession is a service animal. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT HOLDERS – Current law allows concealed weapons permit holders to carry weapons in church services if the church leadership approves it. However, many churches are now leasing school facilities for Sunday services. Since state law prohibits carrying weapons on the person on school property, regardless of the day, those churchgoers are not allowed to carry even with permission from church leadership.

Last week the Senate passed S. 293, a bill that would allow CWP holders to carry their weapons at church services conducted on school facilities as long as the school and church leadership approve it and no school-related activities are conducted on the premises at the same time. The bill will now go to the House.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

The General Assembly’s schedule will change this week to accommodate funeral services for former U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings. Sen. Hollings will lie in state at the State House on Monday, and the funeral will be held on Tuesday in Charleston. Consequently, the General Assembly will not meet on Tuesday.

2019-2020 STATE BUDGET – The Senate will debate the 2019-2020 state budget beginning on Wednesday. You can view the different sections of the budget here and the Finance Committee’s spreadsheet showing how the committee proposes to allocate funding here. You can also view the proposed expenditures from the Capital Reserve Fund here.

K-12 EDUCATION REFORM – A subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee has completed its work on the comprehensive reform legislation. The full Education Committee will consider the legislation on Wednesday, April 24.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 12th week of the 2019 legislative session. There are 6 weeks left before the General Assembly adjourns on May 10. Here are the highlights from Senate floor action from last week.

TURKEY HUNTING SEASON – The Senate debated S. 575, a bill that would make changes to turkey hunting season and the bag limits. The bill was amended to ensure stronger preservation efforts for the state’s turkey population and received an important vote to move forward. I’m hopeful the bill will receive a final vote this week.

DEER TAGS – The Senate passed H. 3750, a bill that would provide South Carolina hunters with two, unrestricted tags for antlerless deer (as opposed to the current eight tags that can be used only on specific dates) in addition to the three, unrestricted tags for antlered deer. The House has already passed the bill, so the bill will now go to Governor McMaster.

ANIMAL CRUELTY – The Senate passed S. 105, a bill that would require magistrates and municipal judges to receive training on animal cruelty laws, impose restrictions on tethering animals, and provide standards for animal shelters. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

RELOCATION OF WATER AND SEWER LINES FOR ROAD PROJECTS – The Senate passed S. 401, a bill that would make entities undertaking transportation improvement projects (typically SCDOT or counties) responsible for the costs of moving water and sewer lines that are located in the rights-of-way.

Moving these utility lines are often very costly for water and sewer authorities. The House will now consider the bill.

NEW VOTING MACHINES – The State Fiscal Affairs Authority issued Request for Proposals for a new statewide voting system in December 2018, requiring that those proposals be submitted by March 4. The Senate passed H. 4157, a resolution would extend the deadline for submitting proposals to April 4.

The purpose is to ensure we have sufficient, qualified bids to allow for a purchase and implementation before the 2020 elections. The resolution will now go to Governor McMaster.

YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS – The Senate passed H. 3420, a bill that would prohibit minors from entering stores that sell primarily nicotine products. The bill would also increase penalties for those who sell tobacco products to minors. The bill will now go back to the House of Representatives.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

Here are few noteworthy issues that I expect to receive attention in the Senate this week:

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION – The Senate began debate on S. 203, a bill that would require the consolidation of school districts that (1) have fewer that 1,500 students and (2) do not have jurisdiction over the entire county. I expect the Senate to continue discussion of the bill this week and hopefully send it on to the House.

SANTEE COOPER – Last week, the Senate Finance Committee discussed and adopted a resolution that would provide for the sale of Santee Cooper. I expect the full Senate to discuss the resolution at some point in the next few weeks. I will keep you updated.

2019-2020 STATE BUDGET – The Senate Finance Committee will have extended committee meetings this week to consider the state budget. I expect the committee to report the budget to the full Senate, which would allow the full Senate to debate the budget the week of April 15.

CHARLIE CONDON AS CHAIRMAN OF SANTEE COOPER BOARD – Two weeks ago, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a two-hour confirmation hearing for Governor McMaster’s nominee to be chairman of Santee Cooper’s board, Charlie Condon. The committee will resume its questioning and consideration of Mr. Condon on Tuesday.

TAX BREAKS FOR CAROLINA PANTHERS? – The Senate will likely consider S. 655, a bill that would amend state tax laws to offer tax savings to the Carolina Panthers if the Panthers move their headquarters and practice facilities to York County.

LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS 

On Thursday afternoon, I met with a group of teachers at Gilbert High School to discuss education reform efforts. I enjoyed the conversation and really appreciate the teachers sharing their time.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 11th week of the 2019 legislative session. There are 7 weeks left before the General Assembly adjourns on May 10. Here are the highlights from Senate floor action from last week.

FLOOD RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS – The Senate passed S. 259, a bill that would create a new revolving fund to provide low interest loans to perform flooded-home buyouts and floodplain restoration. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS – The Senate passed H. 3438, a bill that would create a new, cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs. The House will now consider the Senate’s amendments.

SPADEFISH CATCH LIMITS – The Senate passed S. 476, a bill that would set catch and size limits on spadefish. The bill will now go to the House.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR VETERINARIANS – The Senate passed H. 3732, a bill that would require veterinarians who are authorized to prescribe certain controlled medications to have continuing education on prescribing and monitoring controlled drugs. The bill will now go to Governor McMaster.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME – The Senate passed S. 11, a bill that would have South Carolina observe Daylight Savings Time year-around if Congress passes legislation authorizing states to do that. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

ONLINE NOTARIZATIONS – The Senate passed S. 486, a bill that would allow for the electronic notarization of certain documents. The House will now consider the bill.

UPDATED RULES FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS – The Senate passed S. 132, a bill that would update the Physician Assistants practice act. The purpose is to give PA’s more autonomy, while still requiring supervision from physicians, in order to expand access to health care, especially in rural areas. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

CHILDREN’S TRUST FUND – The Senate passed S. 498, a bill that would allow DSS to enter agreements with the Children’s Trust Fund for child abuse treatment and reporting. The bill will now go to the House.

PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS – The Senate passed H. 3180, a bill that would provide additional protections for service members who are deployed.

As an example, the bill would allow for service members to cancel certain contracts – gym memberships, cell phone agreements, etc. – if they are ordered to deploy for a period of time and cannot benefit from the contracts during their deployment. The bill will go back to the House of Representatives to consider Senate amendments.

MULTISTATE LICENSING FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS – The Senate passed S. 573, a bill that would allow the Board of Financial Institutions to enter into multistate agreements for the licensing of financial institutions in multiple states. The House will now consider the bill.

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE –The Senate passed S. 579, a bill that would require automobile insurers to file rate increases with the Department of Insurance every six months and prohibit increases more than one time per year unless approved by the Department. This bill should limit the ever-increasing automobile insurance rates. The House will now consider the bill.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

SANTEE COOPER – Last week, two resolutions were introduced in the Senate that would provide for the sale of Santee Cooper. The resolutions will be considered by the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees this week. I will keep you updated.

TURKEY HUNTING SEASON – The Senate Fish, Game & Forestry Committee sent S. 575 to the full Senate for consideration. The bill makes changes to turkey hunting season and the bag limits. I have received a good bit of input on this bill, especially from the National Wild Turkey Federation. I expect the Senate to debate the bill this week.

K-12 EDUCATION REFORM – The Senate Education Committee’s subcommittee has held more than 10 meetings so far – including 4 night hearings across the state – to work on revisions and improvements to H. 3759, a bill designed to address education reform issues.

The subcommittee will continue working on the bill with a meeting scheduled for:

Wednesday, March 27
Senate Gressette Office Building
Room 308
9:00 a.m.

I expect the Senate version of the bill to be different in many respects from the version passed by the House. The full Senate Education Committee will likely consider an amended version of H. 3759 the first week in April, and I hope the full Senate will debate the bill later in April.

LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS 

On Monday night, I attended an Aiken County Legislative Delegation meeting.

Wednesday was the annual day for selected Aiken County high school students to come to Columbia to tour the State House and shadow legislators. Every high school in the county was represented, offering a great opportunity for high school students to learn about state government.

On Wednesday night, I spoke at Cherokee Presbyterian Church in Gilbert as part of its “This is Us” series. The series brings in community members with various backgrounds and allows them to share their story as a way of allowing us to get to know each other better. I really enjoyed the visit.

On Friday, I visited Aiken High School and spent some time talking with teachers about ideas to improve and strengthen South Carolina’s educational system.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 10th week of the 2019 legislative session.  There are 8 weeks left before the General Assembly adjourns on May 10.  Here are the highlights from Senate floor action from last week.

ENSURING ONLINE RETAILERS COLLECT SALES TAXES – The Senate passed S. 214, a bill that would close a potential loophole to ensure online retailers are required to collect state sales taxes. The change is necessary following a U.S. Supreme Court decision and a lawsuit filed by the Department of Revenue to require Amazon to collect taxes on sales from third-party retailers who use Amazon’s website. 

This change would ensure that online retailers are held to the same standard as brick-and-mortar retailers. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

FINFISH – The Senate passed S. 475, a bill that would set catch and size limits on finfish. The bill will now go to the House.

HEMP FARMING – The Senate passed H.3449, a bill that would bring South Carolina law into line with federal law regarding the permitting of hemp farms. The Senate amended the House version of the bill, so the House will now have to consider those changes.

PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER A VEHICLE – In 2017, the General Assembly passed legislation to increase the gas tax and several fees to fund road and bridge improvements across the state. One of the fees that increased is the annual fee we pay to register our cars and trucks. The law imposed a larger fee for people who register a vehicle after moving into the state, but some people have avoided registering vehicles because the penalty was only $100. 

Last week, the Senate passed S.162, a bill that would increase the penalty to $500 for failure to timely register a vehicle. The House will now consider the bill. 

TEXTILE COMMUNITIES REVITALIZATION – The Senate passed S. 440, a bill that would update the Textile Communities Revitalization Act. This law has encouraged the redevelopment and repurposing of many abandoned textile mill properties across the state. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

TAX CONFORMITY – The Senate passed H. 3985, a bill that would conform South Carolina’s tax code to the federal code through December 31, 2018. This is an annual exercise to make it easier for South Carolina income taxpayers to complete their tax returns. The legislature made similar changes last October through February 2018, but this bill conforms through the end of 2018. The bill will now go to Governor McMaster.

TORT CLAIMS ACT – South Carolina, like other states and federal government, has a tort claims act that waives its immunity from lawsuits in certain situations. That law also sets a maximum limit that the state or local governments would have to pay as a result of a tortious act. In South Carolina, that limit is $300,000 per person and $600,000 per occurrence (regardless of the number of persons injured).  

Last week, the Senate began debate S. 7, a bill that would raise that cap on damage payouts.  This will be a contentious debate because raising the caps will affect the insurance premiums paid by the state, counties, municipalities, school districts, special purpose districts, most hospitals, and charitable organizations. The Senate did not vote on the bill last week, so I expect the conversation to continue this week.

CONFIRMATIONS  – The Senate confirmed the following nominations by Governor McMaster:

Llewellyn Gregory Pearce – Mental Health Commission, 2nd Congressional District
Theresa Mills–Floyd – Director of the State Baord of Medical Examiners
Richard V. Lee, Jr. – DHEC Board, 5th Congressional District
Mark D. Buyck – State Ports Authority, at-large

COMING UP THIS WEEK

Here are few noteworthy issues that I expect to receive attention in the Senate this week:

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION – The Senate Education Committee approved S. 203, a bill that would require school districts with fewer than 1,500 students to consolidate with larger districts by August 1, 2020. Districts that make up the entire county would be exempt.

This would affect the following districts:  Bamberg 1, Bamberg 2, Barnwell 19, Barnwell 29, Clarendon 1, Clarendon 3, and Hampton 2.  The full Senate could consider the legislation this week.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME – The Senate will likely consider S. 11, a bill that would have South Carolina observe Daylight Savings Time year-around if Congress passes legislation authorizing states to do that.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS – The Senate will likely consider H.3438, a bill that would create a new, cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs.

CHARLIE CONDON AS CHAIRMAN OF SANTEE COOPER BOARD – The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on Tuesday for Governor McMaster’s nominee to lead Santee Cooper’s Board of Directors, Charlie Condon. Mr. Condon is a former Attorney General and currently serves as the interim chairman. I expect this hearing will last at least the full two hours of the scheduled committee time and may require an additional meeting.

K-12 EDUCATION REFORM – There has been a good bit of conversation this year about reforming our K-12 education system to provide better working conditions for teachers and more and better opportunities for students. Last week, the House of Representatives passed H. 3759, a bill designed to address those issues. However, the bill has met with opposition for many teachers.

The Senate subcommittee focused on this issue has scheduled at least 9 hearings to work on the legislation, including 4 night hearings across the state to allow teachers, parents, and students to provide input. 

Here are the remaining subcommittee hearings that have been scheduled:

Monday, March 18
Gaffney High School Auditorium
Gaffney, SC
6:00PM

Wednesday, March 20
Senate Gressette Office Building
Room 308
9:00AM

Thursday, March 21
Georgetown High School Auditorium
Georgetown, SC
6:00PM

I expect the Senate version of the bill to be different in many respects from the version passed by the House. The full Senate Education Committee will likely consider an amended version of H. 3759 the first week in April, and I hope the full Senate will debate the bill later in April.

LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS

On Monday afternoon, I did a call-in interview with Kev Cohen on 100.7 in Columbia to talk about issues the Senate has tackled this session and what will likely come up during the second half of the session.

Tuesday was 4-H Day at the State House. I was able to spend a couple minutes with some 4-H students from McCormick.

On Wednesday morning, I joined other legislative members and Governor McMaster at the Governor’s Mansion to meet with the owner of the Carolina Panthers and discuss plans to move the Panthers’ headquarters and practice facility to York County.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 9th week of the 2019 legislative session. We are now half way through the 18-week session. Here are the highlights from Senate floor action last week.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES FOR MILITARY SPOUSES – The Senate passed S. 455, a bill that would allow spouses of South Carolina-based, active duty armed service members to receive temporary professional licenses (engineer, cosmetologists, contractors, etc.) if they have met licensure requirements. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES  – In an effort to strengthen our state’s DUI laws, the General Assembly passed legislation a few years ago to require people with multiple DUI convictions or very high blood-alcohol levels to install ignition interlock devices (IID) on their vehicles. After an IID is installed on a vehicle, the vehicle will not start until the driver blows into the device and registers a blood-alcohol level that is below 0.08%, the legal limit in South Carolina.

Last week, the Senate passed S. 18, a bill that would require every person convicted of DUI to install an IID on his or her vehicle, even after a first offense. The House will now consider the bill.

COMMON SENSE DEFINITION OF “CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT” – The Senate passed S. 79, a bill that would ensure that allowing a child to play outside, stay at home, or engage in many routine, independent activities are not to be considered as child abuse or neglect if the child is of sufficient age and his basic needs are met. The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives.

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS – The Senate passed S. 277, a bill dealing with the licensure of speech-language pathologists. The House will now consider the legislation.

PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS – The Senate passed S. 359, a bill that would authorize and require licensure for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These PBMs would work with pharmacies to process claims and negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers for lower drug costs. The bill has been sent to the House.

COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PRISONS AND JAILS – The Senate passed S. 156, a bill that would make it a crime to possess a cell phone or other telecommunication device inside a prison or jail unless authorized by official in charge of the facility. The smuggling and use of cell phones in prisons has been a major problem for the Department of Corrections. The House of Representatives will now consider the bill.

K-12 EDUCATION REFORM – There has been a good bit of conversation this year about reforming our K-12 education system to provide better working conditions for teachers and more and better opportunities for students. Last week the House of Representatives passed H. 3759, a bill designed to address those issues. However, the bill has met with opposition for many teachers.

The Senate subcommittee focused on this issue has scheduled at least 9 hearings to work on the legislation, including 4 night hearings across the state to allow teachers, parents, and students to provide input. Here are the remaining subcommittee hearings that have been scheduled:

Monday, March 11
Coker College, Black Box Theater
Hartsville, SC
6:00 p.m.

Monday, March 18
Gaffney High School Auditorium
Gaffney, SC
6:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 21
Georgetown High School Auditorium
Georgetown, SC
6:00 p.m.

I expect the Senate version of the bill to be different in many respects from the version passed by the House. The full Senate Education Committee will likely consider an amended version of H. 3759 the first week in April, and I hope the full Senate will debate the bill later in April.

BUDGET – The House of Representatives will debate the 2019-2020 state budget this week. The current schedule would have the Senate debate the budget the week of April 15. I will provide more details as we get closer to the Senate consideration.

LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS

On Monday, I talked with teachers and spoke to a political science class at Strom Thurmond High School.

On Monday night, I attended a K-12 reform hearing held by the Senate Education subcommittee at McCormick Middle School.

On Thursday night, I attended the monthly meeting of the Ridge Road Community Club in Leesville. I enjoyed the fellowship and the opportunity to share a legislative update.

On Friday morning, I read books to two classes at W.E. Parker Elementary School in Edgefield as part of “Read Across America” week. Since Dr. Seuss’s birthday was last Saturday, I read “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham.”

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

STHS STATE CHAMPIONS – Last weekend Strom Thurmond High School’s mock trial team won the 2019 state championship. The Rebel team will represent South Carolina at the national tournament in Athens. Georgia in early May. Congratulations!

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 8th week of the 2019 legislative session. There are 10 weeks remaining in the regular session. Here are the highlights from Senate floor action from last week.

NEW RULES FOR WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS IN LANGLEY, BATH, AND CLEARWATER – Earlier this year the General Assembly passed R4, S335 legislation to update the election rules and terms for commissioners serving on the water and sewer commissions in Langley, Bath, and Clearwater in Aiken County. Governor McMaster vetoed that legislation, and the Senate overrode the veto last week. The House of Representatives will likely act on the veto this week.

NEW DIRECTOR OF DHEC – The Senate confirmed the nomination of Dr. Rick Toomey to be the new Director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

PAY FOR SUCCESS ACCOUNTABILITY – The Senate passed S. 318, a bill that would give greater flexibility to state agencies contracting with private companies to provide specified services.

The state and the private entity could agree that the private company would be paid based on its success in delivering better outcomes and lower costs for governmental services rather than traditional methods of a flat fee or by the hour. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

EXTENSION OF TAX CREDITS FOR PURCHASE OF GEOTHERMAL EQUIPMENT – South Carolina allows income tax credits for the purchase of geothermal machinery and equipment. Those credits expired on January 1, 2019, so the Senate passed S. 329, a bill that would extend those credits to January 1, 2020. The House will now consider the legislation.

TAX CREDITS FOR SOLAR ENERGY PROPERTY –  The Senate passed S. 362, a bill that would allow tax credits for the production of solar energy property across the state. The House of Representatives will now consider the bill.

REDUCED TUITION FOR DISABLED VETERANS – The Senate passed H. 3639, a bill that would allow veterans with service-connected disabilities to receive in-state tuition at South Carolina’s colleges and universities, regardless of how long they have lived in the state. The House has already passed the bill, so the bill will now go to Governor McMaster.

VETERAN DESIGNATION ON DRIVER’S LICENSES – South Carolina allows veterans to have a special designation on their driver’s licenses to identify their status as a veteran. The Senate passed S.199, a bill that would make it easier for veterans to get that designation. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.

VIOLENT CRIME DESIGNATION ON DRIVER’S LICENSES – South Carolina requires individuals convicted of crimes of violence to have a special designation on their driver’s licenses that will inform law enforcement if the person has been convicted of those crimes. Last week the Senate passed S. 548, a bill that would expand the offenses that must be designated on licenses. The House will now consider the bill.

ENFORCEMENT OF ALCOHOL LAWS – The Senate passed S. 397, a bill that would allow sheriff’s departments to enforce state alcohol laws throughout the county if the county has more than 100,000 residents. Currently, only SLED has that authority. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

CONSERVATION BANK – I have received a number of emails regarding the Conservation Bank Board’s nomination of former Representative Mike Pitts to lead that agency. The Senate Agriculture Committee held two hearings on the nomination and forwarded the nomination to the full Senate without a recommendation.

Reporting on a nominee without a recommendation is an unusual step, but that act shows that the committee was divided over whether the former lawmaker should get the job. I would not have voted to report Rep. Pitts favorably, but I did support forwarding his nomination to full Senate without a recommendation. This morning Mr. Pitts withdrew from being considered for the position.

SANTEE COOPER – Since SCE&G and Santee Cooper announced the abandonment of two new nuclear reactors at VC Summer Nuclear Station in Fairfield County in 2017, the legislature has focused on learning what happened and how best to protect customers.

Last year, I provided several updates on legislative actions directed at SCE&G and its new owner, Dominion. While I hope we will continue working on additional rate relief for SCE&G customers, this year’s efforts will deal mostly with Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility that provides roughly 2/3 of the power to all cooperatives across the state in addition to thousands of South Carolinians along the coast who get their power directly from Santee Cooper.

Governor McMaster has been pushing to sell Santee Cooper to a private utility as a means of relieving customers of a significant amount of debt. While I am open to selling Santee Cooper, I know that will be a tough political lift in the Senate. In fact, I am convinced it will take a major education effort and thorough vetting of the problems and possible solutions to get the consensus necessary to take any action on Santee Cooper.

The Senate recently created a special committee to do just that, and Senate President Harvey Peeler has asked me to co-chair that committee. The future of Santee Cooper will affect all South Carolinians, so I will keep you updated.

LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS

Tuesday was Clemson Day at the State House. Coach Dabo Swinney and several members of the football team and university representatives were at the State House to celebrate Clemson University’s national championship and academic successes.

On Tuesday night, I joined Senior Adults at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Johnston for their monthly dinner to discuss issues before the General Assembly this year. I really appreciate the invitation, and I enjoyed the conversation.

On Wednesday, I met with about 20 young bankers from across the state, including several from our Senate District. I enjoyed talking with these young professionals about their industry and challenges facing South Carolina.

On Friday morning, I spent a few hours at River Bluff High School in Lexington to speak with government students and advise them on policy projects they’re working on. I had fun and left inspired with just how creative and informed these students are.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

K-12 EDUCATION REFORM – There has been a good bit of conversation this year about reforming our K-12 education system to provide better working conditions for teachers and more and better opportunities for students. To that end, the House of Representatives and Senate have been working on comprehensive reform proposals.

The Senate subcommittee focused on this issue has scheduled at least 9 hearings to work on the legislation, including 4 night hearings across the state to allow teachers, parents, and students to provide input.

Here are the remaining subcommittee hearings that have been scheduled:

Monday, March 4
McCormick Middle School gymnasium
McCormick, SC
6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6
Gressette Senate Office Building, Room 308
Columbia, SC
9:00 am

Monday, March 11
Coker College, Black Box Theater
Hartsville, SC
6:00 p.m.

Monday, March 18
Gaffney High School Auditorium
Gaffney, SC
6:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 21
Georgetown High School Auditorium
Georgetown, SC
6:00 p.m.

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419

Last week was the 7th week of the 2019 legislative session. There are 11 weeks remaining in the regular session. Here are the highlights from Senate floor action from last week.

MEDICAL HISTORY INFORMATION FOR ADOPTED CHILDREN – The Senate passed S. 181, a bill that would allow adopted children to learn of the medical history of their biological parents if the parents consented to that disclosure. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

PUBLIC DISCLOSURES REGARDING CHILD FATALITIES – The Senate passed S. 211, a bill that would authorize DSS to release information regarding fatalities and near-fatalities involving children. The bill now goes to the House.

ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS OF COLLEGES THAT CLOSED – In 2018 Virginia College and the Golf Academy of Myrtle Beach closed down even though students were enrolled in programs at those for-profit higher education institutions.

Last week the Senate passed H. 3697, a resolution that would allow those students to complete their education at other colleges or universities in South Carolina without penalty.

TAX LIENS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET – The Senate passed S. 160, a bill that would allow the Department of Revenue to file tax liens online rather than having those liens filed in various courthouses across the state. If the House passes the bill, it would be much easier to search for tax liens from DOR.

NEW ADJUTANT GENERAL  – Historically, South Carolina has elected the Adjutant General. However, in 2014 voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow the Governor to nominate the Adjutant General following the 2018 election with advice and consent of the Senate. Governor Henry McMaster nominated General R. Van McCarty as the first Adjutant General under this new constitutional provision. The Senate confirmed Gen. McCarty’s nomination last week.

INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR MEDICAL TRAINERS – The Senate passed S. 314, a bill that would allow doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to claim an income tax credit for volunteering as preceptors for clinical rotations required for medical students. The House will now consider the bill.

LAST WEEK’S MEETINGS

On Monday night, I attended the “State of the Valley” at Midland Valley High School. The event served as an to review the school’s achievements and introduce the new head football coach, Kenny Freeman.
Tuesday was Leadership Aiken County day at the statehouse.
Wednesday was the annual FFA day at the statehouse. I enjoyed being able to spend some time with FFA students from Midland Valley High School, Ridge Spring-Monetta High School, Strom Thurmond High School, Gilbert High School, Saluda High School, and Piedmont Technical College.
Wednesday was also USC-Aiken day at the statehouse. I joined other Aiken County legislators in talking with students about USC-Aiken’s impressive achievements.
On Wednesday, representatives from county councils across South Carolina visited the statehouse. I was able to spend a few minutes with county officials from Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda.

CONSTITUENT INTERESTS

SCDOT ROAD PROJECTS – SCDOT now 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.

DO YOU NEED A REAL ID? – SCDMV is now issuing Real ID licenses and identification cards. If you intend to get a Real ID, DMV encourages you to avoid long lines and get the new ID before the September 30, 2020 deadline. See below for frequent questions with answers:

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A REAL ID? – To board any commercial airline flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation on and after October 1, 2020, you must have a REAL ID or another federally approved identification such as a valid US Passport or military ID.

DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CURRENT ID SOON? – There is no need to rush to DMV now. In fact, unless your driver’s license or ID card is expiring, there is really no reason to wait in line to change your card right now. If you do decide to get a Real ID, make sure you take the correct documentation to change your current license or ID card to a Real ID.

To see the documentation you will need for a Real ID or get more information, please see SCDMV’s Real ID page here.

WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACTION? – The Senate meets in statewide session on Tuesdays at 2:00, Wednesdays at 12:00, and Thursdays at 11:00. Committees and subcommittees meet Tuesday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Thursday mornings. You can watch live coverage of the Senate, House of Representatives, and committees here.

OUR SENATE DISTRICT – Senate district 25 consists of all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick, and Saluda Counties. If you’d like to see the district map, go here.

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, 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 me to come and 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.

Sincerely,

Shane Massey
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC  29824
Email: shanemassey@scsenate.gov
Cell Phone: (803) 480-0419