Debates Focus on New & Familiar Issues

The legislature spent their time on the floor this week dealing with issues that have been top priorities in both chambers and some lingering issues that failed to make it across the finish line in 2022.

The House passed legislation on Wednesday that criminalizes trafficking fentanyl and provides for mandatory sentences. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate. Currently, no law in South Carolina expressly addresses fentanyl.  

In the Senate, two big issues that failed to make it across the finish line in 2022 were the week's key focus. Senators passed legislation dealing with school vouchers and Certificate of Need. Both bills now move to the House for consideration.

Another familiar issue in the headlines is likely to be debated in both chambers soon – abortion.

Earlier this week, SC Attorney General Alan Wilson asked the SC Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling striking down the state's six-week abortion ban. However, the House and Senate will likely take up new bills dealing with the matter sooner rather than later.

The House introduced a bill last week and was given a favorable report by a subcommittee two days later. The bill currently awaits a full Judiciary Committee meeting before heading to the floor. 

Meanwhile, the Senate introduced an abortion bill on Wednesday, and it will likely skip the committee process altogether and be on the Senate calendar as early as next week.  

The Senate has a handful of bills reported out of the Transportation Committee last month sitting on the calendar, including legislation (S.361) dealing with SCDOT contract extensions. Perhaps these bills will be able to move before any contentious debate begins. 

House Budget Work Continues

Budget subcommittees continue to meet to hear from state agencies and other entities regarding budget requests for the FY23-24 appropriations bill. You will recall that the SCDOT presented their budget requests to the Transportation & Regulatory Subcommittee last month. Subcommittees will unveil budget recommendations soon. The full Ways & Means Committee will begin budget deliberations the week of February 21. 

DMV Bill Keeps State Highway Fund Allocations Intact

The House Education & Public Works Committee, chaired by Rep. Shannon Erickson (R-Beaufort), gave a favorable report to legislation (H.3518) dealing with the driver's license reinstatement program and the cost of administration to the SC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

The bill increases the program's administrative fee from $35 to $40. DMV will retain the $5 increase for administration of the program. Most importantly, this maintains the existing $35 allocation to the State Highway Fund.

You will recall that SCDOT receives various fine/fee revenues from DMV - and this fee is one of them. 

The increase is necessary because, according to estimates, if $5 of each $35 administrative fee collected were redirected to DMV to cover administrative costs, the State Highway Fund would see a loss of $53,000 (annually).

The fee increase did provide some heartburn for a few members of the committee; however, Chairwoman Erickson made it clear during the meeting that she does not favor fee increases but supports this bill. She then explained how these fees are a predictable and relied-upon source for our roads. She added that the small increase will cover the administration costs and ultimately benefit those seeking these temporary licenses. 

The bill now resides on the House calendar.

S. 485 – Paris Mountain State Park Access

Primary Sponsor: Senator Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville)

Prohibits the SCDOT from installing curb cuts or other access points to Paris Mountain State Park along Altamont Road in Greenville County. (The bill seems to respond to residents’ traffic concerns that made headlines late last year at the County Council level.) The bill was referred to the Transportation Committee.

TIAC Tracking Transportation Funding Nationwide

State lawmakers introduced over 90 transportation funding bills in 25 states since the start of the 2023 legislative session, according to ARTBA’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center. These bills have the potential to generate millions in recurring and one-time revenue to support transportation infrastructure projects across the country. Among the highlights:

• Forty-nine percent (46 bills) propose one-time funding using bonds, excess federal COVID relief, or larger-than-expected budget surpluses. Most of the one-time funding measures (31) are in Minnesota, where individual projects are submitted in hopes they will be chosen for a larger bonding package later in the year.
• Electric vehicle fees, including registration fees and charging station fees, comprise 11 percent (10 measures).
• Recurring revenue, such as registration fees and sales taxes, also make up 11 percent of the measures introduced.
• Other funding measures include local funding, road usage charge proposals, and motor fuel tax increases.

Source: ARTBA TIAC February 2, 2023