Latest news with #SouthCarolinaGeneralAssembly
Fox News
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
GOP governor nominee pushes redistricting to oust state's lone House Dem
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., is calling on his state to join the growing fight over the country's congressional maps – with eyes on the one Democrat in his delegation. Norman told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that he wants the South Carolina General Assembly to redraw its district lines, which he argued is more in line with the Palmetto State's Republican majorities in the statehouse and state Senate. "We have Republican supermajorities in South Carolina. Let's use them to create more competition in our congressional seats. I have no doubt Republicans can be successful in every part of our state," Norman said. Norman, who is running for governor, said that would make South Carolina's seats in the House of Representatives "more competitive" and that it would "move our House delegation from 6-1 to 7-0." "That will help increase Republican control of Congress and help President Trump pass his agenda. Every vote counts toward a conservative Speaker Mike Johnson rather than a liberal Speaker Hakeem Jeffries of New York City," Norman said. And while he did not give further details about how he'd want that map to look, he did mention the lone Democrat, longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., by name. "Jim Clyburn is a nice man and I respect him. But he is a liberal Democrat who helped put Joe Biden in the White House," Norman said. "That's not the kind of representation South Carolina needs." Clyburn is indeed a close ally of former President Joe Biden. His support was critical to Biden winning the 2020 Democratic primary in South Carolina, a victory that was decisive in putting Biden at the front of the crowded race. He's also represented South Carolina's 6th congressional district since 1993. The 6th congressional district was first gerrymandered to give Black South Carolinians greater representation in the early 1990s, resulting in the only majority-Black district in the state. South Carolina's congressional map has seen some partisan fighting in recent years, however. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that said a Republican-led redraw of district lines unfairly diluted Black voters' power, primarily in South Carolina's 1st congressional district, which neighbors Clyburn's. The high court's conservative majority ruled 6-3 that the district was redrawn along partisan lines, rather than racial, and therefore could be legally upheld. Redistricting is traditionally done following the U.S. census, which is taken every decade, to account for population shifts in various states. Norman's call to redraw the lines again comes after Texas Republicans' push to create a new congressional map that would give the GOP as many as five new seats in the House of Representatives. It's ignited a political firestorm across the country, with liberal states like New York and California pledging to follow suit. There are now discussions in multiple states about potentially redrawing district lines as well. Fox News Digital reached out to Clyburn's campaign for comment, as well as representatives in the South Carolina General Assembly.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Six crime bills that passed the South Carolina legislature in 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – The 2025 regular session of the South Carolina General Assembly ended Thursday, with lawmakers racing to send bills to the governor's desk in the final days. Leadership in the Republican-controlled House outlined public safety as a priority before the session even began, and crime-related issues often came to the forefront of debate as it went on. South Carolina legislature ends its 2025 session with some wins and some uncertainty Dozens of proposals focused on changes to the state's criminal justice system were introduced in both chambers. Several passed, some did not, and some have already become law. That includes bills that created new criminal offenses and expanded the scope of preexisting ones, like enhancing penalties for organized retail theft and drug overdose deaths. It also included measures that strengthen protections against child exploitation and create new tools for law enforcement and prosecutors. 'South Carolina is taking a bold stand against criminals preying on our children and families and making our communities safer,' Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement to News 2. 'Huge thanks to our leaders and community members who worked tirelessly to pass these critical measures.' Here's a look at five crime-related bills that passed this session: Organized retail crime State lawmakers took steps early in the session to crack down on what some in law enforcement described as the 'growing epidemic' of organized retail theft. Organized retail crime involves the large-scale theft of merchandise from retail stores with the intent to resell the stolen items for profit, according to the FBI. The issue rose to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic went videos of 'smash-and-grab' robberies began circulating on social media, prompting widespread public safety concerns. Gov. Henry McMaster signed H.3523 in March, which established penalties for when two or more people conspire to steal property to sell or exchange for profit. Anyone convicted under the law can be punished up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, depending on the value of the stolen property and whether it is a first or subsequent offense. It also created a separate offense when certain aggravating circumstances are present, such as the crime results in property damage or causes bodily harm to another person. The law went into effect on March 7. Fentanyl-induced homicide A bill targeting the distribution and use of fentanyl made it across the finish line on the final day of session. S. 156 establishes a new offense of fentanyl-induced homicide, making it a felony if someone knowingly distributes fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance to another person who then dies as a result of using the drug. The so-called 'dealer' could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. A victim consenting to the use of the substance could not be used as a defense, except in limited circumstances involving suicide. The bill also contains language that prevents a fentanyl user from being prosecuted if they used the substance with another consenting person and that person dies as a result. It is awaiting the governor's signature. Failure to stop for blue lights A bill that raises the penalty for failing to stop for law enforcement advanced through both chambers in the final week. It is already unlawful for a driver not to stop when signaled by police, but the bill on Gov. McMaster's desk, H.3127, would remove the mandatory minimum of 90 days for a first offense that doesn't involve injury or death. The penalty goes up to 10 years and license suspension for subsequent offenses. For high-speed pursuits, defined as when a driver 'increases speed or takes evasive actions to avoid the pursuing law enforcement vehicle,' a person could face a felony charge punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Their driver's license would also be suspended for one year upon conviction. If injury or death occurs, the penalty could range from 15 to 30 years, depending on severity. If signed, the bill would take effect one year after its signature. Morphed images South Carolina already outlaws the possession, distribution, or production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but there is no language explicitly addressing AI-generated content. That is expected to change with the passage of S.29, a bill that adds a prohibition against morphed images and videos to the state's existing child exploitation statute. Deepfakes — videos and images digitally created or altered with artificial intelligence or machine learning — are being used to create CSAM of children who are already being abused or alter the likeness of a real child from a photograph on social media to depict abuse, according to experts. The bill would fold violations into the existing felony penalty structure, with the exception of offenses committed by minors. In those cases, a first violation would be classified as a misdemeanor and heard by a family court judge. If signed, South Carolina would become the 39th state to criminalize AI-generated or digitally-altered child sexual abuse material, according to the child advocacy group Enough Abuse. Revenge Porn A bill criminalizing 'revenge porn' is also awaiting the governor's signature, a move that would make South Carolina the final state to outlaw the act. Lawmakers approved H.3058, which prohibits sharing intimate images of another person without their permission. It takes the state's 2023 ban on 'sextortion' – the act of blackmailing someone using sexually explicit images or videos – a step further by making the circulation of such content illegal even without the threat element. Punishment would vary based on several mitigating factors, including whether the offender intended to cause harm. Those cases would result in a felony charge. The legislation would take effect immediately if signed. Administrative Subpoena A bill designed to help speed up investigations into allegations of child sexual abuse passed in the final hours of the session. Currently, cyber tips submitted to the state's Internet Crimes Against Children task force regarding possible child pornography include an IP address but not the identity of the person behind it. To uncover their identity – and eventually serve a warrant for the alleged material – law enforcement must first ask the U.S. Attorney's Office for an administrative subpoena to send to the internet service provider. This can sometimes slow the investigative process down by weeks or even months. S. 74 sought to remove that additional step by broadening the attorney general's subpoena power, allowing them to go straight to the provider for subscriber information. The House amended the bill in April to require a circuit court judge to sign off on the subpoena based on probable cause after some lawmakers raised concerns about potential invasion of privacy. Lawmakers ultimately stuck with the Senate version, sending it to the governor's desk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
09-05-2025
- Business
South Carolina legislature ends its 2025 session with some wins and some uncertainty
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The South Carolina General Assembly wrapped up its regular 2025 session Thursday with a few accomplishments, but a number of things like the fate of the state treasurer and radical changes in the state's tax code are still up in the air. In a flurry of action over the final days, the Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill they hope will reduce skyrocketing insurance rates for restaurants and clubs that serve liquor, and another measure that utilities said was necessary for them to meet the growing demand for power as the state's population booms. And by the end of the year, it will likely be illegal for drivers to hold their cellphones in their hands. Lawmakers also passed a bill allowing parents to spend public money on private schools. The General Assembly passed a similar voucher program in 2023 but it was struck down by the state Supreme Court. Republicans are confident they made just enough changes that the justices won't rule again that it violates the state constitution by directly benefiting private schools. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has either signed or is expected to sign all those proposals. This is the first of the two-year session, so all pending bills will remain where they are until January when the 2026 session begins. But since the 2024 elections created a Republican supermajority in the Senate and locked in the one in the House, issues like a hate crimes law or medical marijuana measure that have been building support fell off the radar this session. 'In the big picture, we didn't do any momentous legislation this year that's going to be remembered long after this year other than potentially the voucher bill if it is somehow found to be constitutional,' Democratic Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said. The liquor liability proposal keeps the requirement for restaurants and bars that serve alcohol to have $1 million in liability insurance. But they can reduce the amount of coverage they must carry by doing things like closing early, having scanners to confirm IDs or showing less than 40% of their sales come from alcohol. Lawmakers discussed tackling other issues with civil lawsuits, but mostly punted that to next year. On energy, lawmakers decided to allow private Dominion Energy and publicly-owned Santee Cooper to work together on a large power plant run on natural gas that both utilities say is needed to meet growing energy needs. The bill also requires regulators to review permits for utility projects quicker. The compromise did not include any limits on data centers, which can use massive amounts of power, or protections some lawmakers wanted for when utilities want to take private land to build pipelines, power lines or substations. 'You're going to regret this,' said Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who several times invoked problems utilities created with too much operational freedom, such as losing billions of dollars on nuclear reactors that were never completed. The House passed a bill that would substantially alter the state's income tax system after their original plan was criticized for raising taxes for up to 60% of filers in its first year. The new plan would leave two rates — 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.39% on everything above that. The current highest rate will likely be dropped to 6% this summer. Republicans said their goal is to slowly drop the higher rate until everyone pays 1.99%. When initially put in place, about 24% of taxpayers will pay more. The Senate didn't take up the bill. The Senate voted to remove Republican Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office for his role in a $1.8 billion accounting error that required millions of dollars by forensic accounts to determine it didn't involve actual money, just bad entries in the state's ledgers. Loftis remains in office because the proposal needed a two-thirds vote from the House as well, and Republican Speaker Murrell Smith said nothing will happen next year — when Loftis plans to run for reelection — because most of the party doesn't think that is an appropriate punishment. 'We need to let the voters decide if they want to keep him in office,' Smith said. Two perennial issues in the General Assembly — a hate crimes bill and a proposal allowing medical use of marijuana — didn't get much traction in 2025. After passing a bill that would make South Carolina the 49th state with a hate crime laws in previous sessions, the House ignored it in 2025. The effort has failed continuously in the Senate, and Massey said he doesn't expect that to change any time soon because he sees no need for it. Medical marijuana has passed the Senate twice in recent years but couldn't quite get through the House. This year it failed to get a hearing in either chamber.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
South Carolina legislature ends its 2025 session with some wins and some uncertainty
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina General Assembly wrapped up its regular 2025 session Thursday with a few accomplishments, but a number of things like the fate of the state treasurer and radical changes in the state's tax code are still up in the air. In a flurry of action over the final days, the Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill they hope will reduce skyrocketing insurance rates for restaurants and clubs that serve liquor, and another measure that utilities said was necessary for them to meet the growing demand for power as the state's population booms. And by the end of the year, it will likely be illegal for drivers to hold their cellphones in their hands. Lawmakers also passed a bill allowing parents to spend public money on private schools. The General Assembly passed a similar voucher program in 2023 but it was struck down by the state Supreme Court. Republicans are confident they made just enough changes that the justices won't rule again that it violates the state constitution by directly benefiting private schools. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has either signed or is expected to sign all those proposals. This is the first of the two-year session, so all pending bills will remain where they are until January when the 2026 session begins. But since the 2024 elections created a Republican supermajority in the Senate and locked in the one in the House, issues like a hate crimes law or medical marijuana measure that have been building support fell off the radar this session. 'In the big picture, we didn't do any momentous legislation this year that's going to be remembered long after this year other than potentially the voucher bill if it is somehow found to be constitutional,' Democratic Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said. Big wins The liquor liability proposal keeps the requirement for restaurants and bars that serve alcohol to have $1 million in liability insurance. But they can reduce the amount of coverage they must carry by doing things like closing early, having scanners to confirm IDs or showing less than 40% of their sales come from alcohol. Lawmakers discussed tackling other issues with civil lawsuits, but mostly punted that to next year. On energy, lawmakers decided to allow private Dominion Energy and publicly-owned Santee Cooper to work together on a large power plant run on natural gas that both utilities say is needed to meet growing energy needs. The bill also requires regulators to review permits for utility projects quicker. The compromise did not include any limits on data centers, which can use massive amounts of power, or protections some lawmakers wanted for when utilities want to take private land to build pipelines, power lines or substations. 'You're going to regret this,' said Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who several times invoked problems utilities created with too much operational freedom, such as losing billions of dollars on nuclear reactors that were never completed. Wait 'til next year The House passed a bill that would substantially alter the state's income tax system after their original plan was criticized for raising taxes for up to 60% of filers in its first year. The new plan would leave two rates — 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.39% on everything above that. The current highest rate will likely be dropped to 6% this summer. Republicans said their goal is to slowly drop the higher rate until everyone pays 1.99%. When initially put in place, about 24% of taxpayers will pay more. The Senate didn't take up the bill. The Senate voted to remove Republican Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office for his role in a $1.8 billion accounting error that required millions of dollars by forensic accounts to determine it didn't involve actual money, just bad entries in the state's ledgers. Loftis remains in office because the proposal needed a two-thirds vote from the House as well, and Republican Speaker Murrell Smith said nothing will happen next year — when Loftis plans to run for reelection — because most of the party doesn't think that is an appropriate punishment. 'We need to let the voters decide if they want to keep him in office,' Smith said. Never mind Two perennial issues in the General Assembly — a hate crimes bill and a proposal allowing medical use of marijuana — didn't get much traction in 2025. After passing a bill that would make South Carolina the 49th state with a hate crime laws in previous sessions, the House ignored it in 2025. The effort has failed continuously in the Senate, and Massey said he doesn't expect that to change any time soon because he sees no need for it.
Toronto Star
09-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
South Carolina legislature ends its 2025 session with some wins and some uncertainty
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina General Assembly wrapped up its regular 2025 session Thursday with a few accomplishments, but a number of things like the fate of the state treasurer and radical changes in the state's tax code are still up in the air. In a flurry of action over the final days, the Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill they hope will reduce skyrocketing insurance rates for restaurants and clubs that serve liquor, and another measure that utilities said was necessary for them to meet the growing demand for power as the state's population booms.
