Latest news with #SouthCarolinaHouseofRepresentatives
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What does the new tort reform, liquor liability law mean for Upstate businesses?
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster signed the Tort Reform and Liquor Liability bill into law. The goal of the new law is to provide much needed relief to bars and restaurants facing high alcohol liability insurance rates. South Carolina lawmakers reach compromise on liquor liability reform McMaster and members of the state's General Assembly met Wednesday for a ceremonial bill signing. In recent months, a law mandating a $1 million liquor liability insurance policy for businesses serving alcohol after 5 p.m. forced many small businesses to close amid soaring insurance premiums. The governor said this issue was a priority entering the legislative session. 'South Carolina's business is business requires certainty, it also requires fairness and justice, it requires that one person is not blamed for what somebody else did, but it requires people that have caused pain, suffering, damage or loss must be held accountable,' he said. Under the new law, businesses may drastically reduce their insurance coverage requirement with 'risk mitigation programs.' McMaster said the issue was thoroughly debated. 'I think we all believe that what we have produced in those debates is a big step forward, it's good, can it be made better? Yes, will all of these provisions work as intended, we hope so, we believe they will,' McMaster added. Stephen Frank, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives told 7NEWS he does not see the new law making much of an impact for struggling Upstate businesses. 'What we are doing on the liquor liability side is we are not making it any cheaper, we're just saying you can buy less of it,' he said. 'We haven't addressed the core issues at all.' Sheila Merck with SC Venue Crisis said she sees the new law as a small step in the right direction. 'It is a step in the right direction, we need many more steps to get where we need to be,' Merck added. 'Todays a good day and we are happy that the bill was signed into effect we are still very concerned to see how it's going to actually be implemented.' Additionally, the law has amended how liability is determined and how damages can be awarded in civil lawsuits. For suits involving DUIs, the new law mandates that business cannot be held liable for more than 50% of the plaintiff's damages, opposed to 100% under the previous law. The law will go into effect in January 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds honor Beaufort Rev. Hodges for being soft-spoken with a powerful voice
More than 500 people, including local, county and state leaders, gathered to say goodbye Saturday to the Rev. Kenneth Hodges, a widely-known religious, political and community leader in Beaufort who was also a father, husband, brother and friend to many. He was also known for his relentless efforts to preserve Black history. For 30 years, Hodges was the pastor at Beaufort Tabernacle Church on Craven Street, and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 10. But he was a complex man who wore many hats. In addition to these professional roles, he was a talented photographer, studying under the noted photographer Edmond Marshal at Clark College in Atlanta. He was an avid art and antique collector and owned LyBensons Studio and Art Gallery on St. Helena Island. The church, one of the city's oldest, seats about 400 and not one was empty during a emotional but joyful service filled with songs and words celebrating Hodges' multi-faceted life and accomplishments that was also streamed to a room in a neighboring building capable of holding another 100. Hodges, who was 73, died April 22 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital after a brief illness, shocking the congregation that he led for many years. Hodge's wife, Patricia, and their three daughters, Kendrea, Kenyatta and Kenithea, were among the crowd that filed into the 200-year-old church, quickly filling it to the rafters. As they passed Hodges, who lied in repose at the front of the church under a scripture on the wall, Matthew 11:28, that reads, 'Come onto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest,' some reached out to touch the pastor who touched so many lives in the community. Hodges was remembered as a visionary go-getter who did things his way and waited for others to come around, especially when it came to memorializing important contributions of historic Black leaders in Beaufort. One was Robert Smalls, born a slave, who became a Civil War hero and congressman. The famous Beaufortonian is buried at the church and a bust graces the property. Later, Hodges fought to recognize abolitionist Harriet Tubman with a sculpture that was erected on church property last year. The sculpture recognizes her role in freeing hundreds of formerly enslaved people during the Combahee River Raid in 1863. In a prayer at the beginning of the service, the Rev. James Moore asked God 'to help us in this hour' and thanked him for Hodges who was born in the fishing community of Bennetts Point in Colleton County and rose to lead a historic church in Tabernacle Baptist that was 'born out of the depths of slavery.' The church was started by Black worshipers in 1863 although the historic building dates to 1811. Hodges became the pastor in 1995. Despite his role leading a historic church, Hodges was not afraid to try new ideas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, recalled Savanah French, who works in the church's media ministry, Hodges continued to preach, without an in-person audience, while French recorded the sermons for online viewing. Later during the pandemic, Hodges oversaw 'drive by' communion, when congregation members drove up in front of the church to receive communion from Hodges. 'He wanted to be available and accessible and get the Lord's word out,' French said. The funeral drew a who's who of community leaders including Mayor Phil Cromer, former mayor Billy Keyserling, County Councilman York Glover and state Rep. Michael Rivers of St. Helena Island. Hodges served in the Legislature from 2006-2016. Cromer called Hodges a pillar of the community who was devoted to preserving African American history and led with purpose, grace and deep devotion to God and others. A proclamation he signed officially declared May 3, the day of Hodges' funeral, a day of mourning in Beaufort in remembrance of his contributions. Glover drew an 'Amen!' when he noted that Hodges may have been soft spoken but spoke with a powerful voice that he used to get things accomplished. Hodges was a visionary who thought 10 to 15 years ahead, Deacon Howard Reeves said. When he first arrived, Reeves noted, Hodges walked around the block to meet with neighbors and ask them if the church could get the first right of refusal if they decided to sell their property. That outreach allowed the downtown church, surrounded by other properties with no room to expand, to acquire land over the years for its needs including parking space. 'He did a lot of things independently because he liked to move fast,' said Reeves, drawing laughter from the knowing audience familiar with Hodge's reputation as a maverick who got things done. Hodges, he added, 'will be missed dearly.' 'We can never replace him,' Reeves said. Yassie Hodges, Hodges' sister, called her brother a complex man because of his many roles: Pastor, politician, community leader, and husband, father and sibling. But to her, he was just 'big brother.' Their parents were farmers and shrimpers, Yassie Hodges said. Her brother, she said, had a sweet tooth and was known for his fondness for chewing on sugar cane. But he grew up to be a man, she added, with a big heart and big dreams. With the death of their parents, Hodges, the oldest, took on grown-up responsibilities sooner than most, taking Yassie under his wing and helping her when she followed him to Atlanta for college and cheering her on, reminding her that their parents 'would be proud.' She laughed when Hodges first told her he wanted to be a pastor but she learned quickly not to doubt his vision. 'Today I see him in no other role,' she said. Hodges was a master at multi-tasking, Yassie Hodges said. And when people would doubt him, telling him he was just going off and doing what he wanted, he would reply, 'I'm just waiting for you to catch up.' Hodge's crown jewel, Yassie Hodges said, was the Harriet Tubman sculpture. She challenged the hundreds in attendance dream big, too. Figure out what lasting impact they can achieve in their lives, she said, and draw inspiration from Hodges, who was 'an example of our ancestors' wildest dreams.' 'I say to you, 'Well done!' Yassie Hodges shouted to her big brother, bringing the attendees to their feet in applause.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Carolina House debates bill to cut insurance rates for bars
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina House of Representatives is debating a bill leaders call 'a top priority.' The Liquor Liability Bill was unanimously passed in the House and lawmakers said it could lower insurance rates for bars and restaurants, as well as improve DUI laws to make South Carolina safer. 'The real question that is yet to be answered, is why are insurance premiums going up?' said Rep. Weston Newton (R – District 120} In 2017, a law required every bar and restaurant that sell alcohol to carry $1 million of insurance coverage. Representative Jay Jordan (R – District 63) said that since the law was put in place, insurance companies have raised their rates. He said the current law has forced several bars and restaurants to close. 'We want to help those folks back home, that are operating these businesses that have seen their premiums go up traumatically in many if not most cases,' said Jordan. 'That was really no fault of their own.' The new proposal would offer business owners ways to lower their insurance rates; one option is an alcohol training course for employees. 'We can do all this to protect our, our bars and restaurants, our small businesses, but at the end of the day, we got to be protecting the public as well,' Newton said. 'The safe serve training component, and the DUI increase in penalties are targeted to do that.' Laura Hudson from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) said this bill isn't perfect, but it's a great step to saving businesses and lives in South Carolina. 'We need to comply with our constitution, which says that there should be no saloons and South Carolina, which we have to have primarily and substantially food service in order to be licensed,' Hudson said. There is a bill that has many similarities to this one under debate in the Speaker Murrell Smith said he agrees with Governor Henry McMaster and Senate leadership that they have one common goal, to make South Carolina a place that protects businesses and victims. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SC House passes bill to increase energy production for natural gas
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina House of Representatives voted on a bill on Thursday, that could bring a more sustainable energy source to the state. The bill would authorize utility companies Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper to work together to get natural gas into South Carolina. 'We're talking about all types of defenses, we're talking about prosperity, we're talking about keeping businesses here,' said Representative Gil Gatch, co-sponsor of the bill. 'It's really hard to keep businesses here in America when we can't provide the energy.' Gatch said it's important to have a cost effective solution that can maintain energy needs for future generations. He said building a gas plant near Charleston would help. 'We want to make sure we get natural gas in soon, to replace all of the energy that we are losing. We are going to lose about 50% of our energy generation in the next 10 years, and not only that, we have overwhelming population growth,' Gatch said. Although this bill was passed by a majority vote, Representative Heather Bauer was one of the few to vote against it. She said this bill is off to a good start, but she wasn't ready to vote yes. 'I couldn't support it quite yet, there are still a lot of critical loopholes and regulatory and permitting processes that could really be exposed by bad actors,' Bauer said. 'That could really endanger clean water, air, and land in our state.' This bill is similar to another energy bill that was debated in the house last session. Representative JA Moore voted for the previous version, but voted against the presented bill on Thursday. 'I'm having a real issue with some of the loopholes. There needs to be a lot of cleanups that need to happen,' Moore said. 'This isn't an anti, for me anyway, anti economic development vote, this is a look, the bill isn't where it needs to be, there's a lot that needs to be done, and at this current moment I was not about to vote 'yes.'' Gatch said the bill is aligned with several of President Trump's viewpoints about energy in America. According to a spokesperson for the Senate GOP, the bill will be referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for Committee Work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
