Good morning. I hope your week is off to a good start. ACEC-SC is looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday at the Design Construction Partnership Legislative Reception.
The Legislative Reception is Wednesday, 1/18/2023, at the Palmetto Club. Though the Reception does not begin until 5:30 PM, Tom Mullikin with the South Carolina Coalition for Lawsuit Reform will be speaking at 4:00 PM on Lawsuit Reform and how it affects everyone from an individual with good insurance to engineering firms with logos on their vehicles. Come get some great talking points for when you're speaking to legislators. Click here to see the pamphlet we will give attendees and legislators to get familiar with some of our issues.
The General Assembly returned to Columbia last Tuesday. Though they did not spend too much time in the House and Senate Chambers, they hit the ground running.
Infrastructure funding is something we will be working on again this year. With ARPA funds still sitting in the bank, ACEC-SC wants to make sure as many of those dollars as possible is allocated to upgrading our aging water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. On Thursday, January 12, 2023, the House Ways & Means Revenue Policy Subcommittee met to discuss H. 3604 (ARPA Contingency Reserve Fund). Secretary Harry Lightsey, Department of Commerce, gave a brief update on how the money is being used before Bonnie Ammons, Executive Director of the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA), reported on the progress from last year's funding. Ammons reported RIA has received over 300 applications for over $2 billion. At this time, 75 have been approved at this time, and they are continuing to review applications. Chairman Bruce Bannister proposed the following amendment adding the following to H.3604:
o Section One Revenue Sources Contingency Funds and ARPA
o Section Two appropriates the funds to the department of commerce
o Section Three – Remaining ARPA Funds to be appropriated to RIA for rural water, projects must be completed by the end of fiscal year 2026
RIA would receive $586.6 million for existing applications if this passes as amended in the Subcommittee. This is in addition to the $900 million RIA received in last year's appropriations. Bannister inquired how fast they could get these dollars to be put to use, and it would be in the same timeline. Rest assured, RIA will need consultant help to execute these projects before the 2026 date Congress currently has established for ARPA funds. Rumors continue to circulate they may extend this deadline, but we shall see.
Representative Bill Sandifer introduced H.3607, which modifies the adoption of the Building Codes. The Home Builders of South Carolina have been attempting to pass this legislation for years. The Home Builders do not want to adopt new building codes every three years, which is the current practice. Five years ago, the late Senator Hugh Leatherman forced the coalition of groups opposing changing the adoption cycle into allowing residential going to a no more than six-year cycle. Having no success or champion in the Senate, the Home Builders tried an alternate route in the House. If it does pass the House, we will try to kill it in the Senate.
More bills are introduced daily, so our list will continue to grow. Click here to see the list of bills we are currently tracking.
Read more.
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Events:
January 18, 2023
Legislative Reception
The Palmetto Club
Columbia, SC
RSVP here.
February 9, 2023
Transportation Committee Meeting
February 15, 2023
ACEC-SC/SCSPE Winter Meeting
Click here for attendee registration.
Click here to sponsor.
February 22, 2023
Engineers' Day on The Hill
SC State House
Columbia, SC
RSVP here.
March 17-18, 2023
ACEC-SC Planning Retreat
Beaufort Inn
Beaufort, SC
Register here.
May 11, 2023
Transportation Committee Meeting
June 15-17, 2023
SC Engineering Conference & Trade Show
Charleston Marriott
Charleston, SC
Registration not available.
Call for Papers, click here.
August 3, 2023
Transportation Committee Meeting
November 9, 2023
Transportation Committee Meeting
25th Anniversary
ACEC-SC/SCDOT
Annual Meeting:
Sponsors
Exhibitors
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2023-2024 ACEC-SC Executive Board of Directors:
Call for Nominations
If you are interested in serving on the 2023-2024 ACEC-SC Executive Board of Directors, click here. Forms must be submitted via email to Sarah Waldrop or by mail to the following:
ACEC-SC
Attn: Sarah Waldrop
826 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
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Are you interested in serving on an ACEC-SC committee?
If you are interested in serving on an ACEC-SC committee, click here.
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2023 ACEC-SC/SCSPE Winter Meeting
Join us February 15, 2023, in Columbia, SC (exact location TBD) for the ACEC-SC/SCSPE Winter Meeting.
To register to attend, click here.
To sponsor, click here.
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2023 Transportation Committee Meeting Dates
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2023 SC Engineering Conference & Trade Show
The SC Engineering Conference & Trade Show will be June 8-10, 2023, at the Charleston Marriott in Charleston, SC. If you are interested in speaking, click here.
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The ACEC Water and Environment Committee released information that is important to our environmental firms. Click here to read the document.
If you are interested in serving on ACEC-SC's Environmental Committe, click here.
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ACEC-SC Planning Retreat
The 2023 ACEC-SC Annual Planning Retreat is this March 17-18 in Beaufort, SC, in the Beaufort Inn. Friday will be a full day with Saturday following as a half day. Registration is $500 per ACEC-SC member and $225 per additional guest.
There are limited hotel rooms available, so book yours today! Call (843) 379-4667 to make your reservation directly with the reservations team, and make sure to tell them you are with ACEC-SC. You can also click here to make your hotel reservation.
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Register today for the Morrissey Goodale’s Southeast M&A, Strategy, and Innovation Symposium.
March 22-24, 2023, in Miami, FL at The Mandarin Oriental Miami.
Read more.
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Did you know ACEC can provide you with Life/Health Insurance, Business Insurance, and Retirement Insurance? Check out the ACEC Trusts here.
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