SC Legislative Update

By Ben Homeyer

  • $642,500 to fund the Be Pro Be Proud mobile workforce program

 

  • $453 million for road projects at SCDOT

 

  • $65 million for commercial airport upgrades

 

  • Proposed $124 million for technical college tuition to get more folks in to CDL, construction, manufacturing and other skilled trades.  

 

  • The Conference committee will be looking at funding models for the DMV to overhaul how motor carrier operations are done.  This could be a significant change for our members.  They are working to create a whole unit just for those that are commercial drivers. 
  • CMV (and CDL) services are complex and require dedicated, knowledgeable, constant staff – and attention and planning from its own top leadership.
  • Fleets are paying enough to warrant it – over $45M in new, windfall Road Use Fee revenues alone!
  • Both recurring items must be funded, or else commercial drivers will continue to get second-class service: 
    • Intrastate fleets will not be able to resume partial-pay options
    • Critical IT up-grades will drag-on
    • Answers will continue to be slow and inconsistent
    • Limitations on new registrations and counter-service will continue to slow the supply chain
    • Antiquated processes and procedures will keep us frustrated
    • On-line processing capabilities (savings in efficiency for all parties) will be extended further into the future
    • SC will not become a favored domicile for fleets or drivers
  • H.3126   COVID-19 vaccine mandates Prohibits South Carolina’s state and local governments, including school districts, from imposing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for any employee, independent contractor, nonemployee vendor, or student as a condition of employment or attendance. In situations where federal requirements would cause state or local governments, including school districts, to forfeit federal funds, employers may require unvaccinated employees, contractors, and vendors to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing where federal requirements allow for testing as an alternative to vaccination.  CRMCA signed on to a letter protesting the language when it contained a 10x penalty and a 4 year mandatory time which would have resulted in a $30,000 penalty for each employee should one be terminated for a vaccine status.  

 

  • S. 1090 UI Payments Department of Employment and Workforce’s authority to set a weekly maximum amount of unemployment benefits.  Fixes a class action lawsuit which could have bankrupt the entire UI system and put massive cost on to employers.  

Income Tax Cuts:

  • The Senate tax plan immediately reduces the top income tax rate from 7% to 5.7% and reduces industrial/manufacturing property taxes.10.5% to 6%
  • The House tax plan would condense tax brackets, reduce the 7% top rate to 6.5% and provide a phased-in reduction to 6% thereafter, including safeguards to trigger reductions. Each year, the top income tax rate will go down a tenth of a percent until it reaches 6%. However, if the state doesn’t grow at least 5% each year, those cuts won’t happen.

 

Primaries are June 14th.  General election is November 8th.  

House and Constitutional officers are up for election.  

House could have as many as 30 new members.