SC Legislative Update

By Ben Homeyer

Activity Updates

Budget conference committee continues to meet to finalize the 2021 state budget. A number of items pertaining to the department of motor vehicles, the department of transportation, and the department of commerce are still in flux. Dollars for state technical colleges which will go to workforce are also being discussed.  All deliberations need to be done prior to December 21 to make the deadline to receive vetoes from the governor before July 1 when the new fiscal year begins.

Governor McMaster today named Harry Lightsey as his nominee to lead the department of commerce. If confirmed, Mr. Lightsey will replace Secretary Bobby Hitt who has held the position for the last 10 years. This is important for our members as most economic development projects of a large scale receive some support from the department. Mr. Lightsey is a former executive at both AT&T and General Motors.

COVID

With the state of emergency over, it is up to individual businesses on whether they have a mask mandate or not. We are seeing most places across the state are removing any sort of mandate and businesses are open and under normal circumstances.  DHEC and governmental agencies are still encouraging all South Carolina’s to be vaccinated. At current time just over 40% are fully vaccinated.