House Bills - April 7, 2023

H.4246 (Reps. Magnuson, A.M. Morgan, Harris, B.J. Cox, S. Jones, Pace, Kilmartin, White, Trantham, T.A. Morgan, McCabe, Cromer, Burns, Chumley, Beach, Oremus, M.M. Smith, O’Neal, Wills, Guffey and Long) – Adds Section 1-1-1710, relating to the prohibition of the state or its political subdivisions from implementing the provisions of federal treaties before the treaty is ratified by the United States Senate.

H.4259 (Rep. Harris) – Enacts the “Hand Count Audit Act” by adding Section 7-13-1180 to require each county board of voter registration and elections to conduct a postelection audit of election results through a hand count of votes cast within a minimum number of randomly selected precincts and to authorize the county chairperson of any certified political party and the governing body of the county to investigate the integrity of elections by requesting a full hand recount or a forensic audit.

H.4260 (Rep. Harris) – Enacts the “Voter Access and Transparency Act” by adding Section 7-5-200 to require the use of paper poll books only at voting locations throughout the state and to, among other things, establish certain inherent rights of observation for all election observers.

H.4261 (Rep. Harris) – Enacts the “Clean Voter Roll Count” by adding Section 7-5-35 to enumerate certain duties devolved upon the county boards of voter registration and elections related to voter list maintenance and to remove certain duties devolved upon the county boards of voter registration and elections relating to voter list maintenance.

H. 4274 (Reps. W. Newton, Herbkersman, Erickson and Bradley) – Enacts the “South Carolina Public Expression Protection Act” by adding Section 15-3-900 regarding a cause of action asserted in a civil action based upon a person’s communication in certain circumstances and establishes requirements for proceedings regarding a cause of action relating to the right of freedom of speech or communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding.

H.4281 (Reps. McGinnis, Lowe, Jordan, Schuessler, Bailey, Hardee, Brittain, Atkinson, Guest, Hayes, Nutt, Gagnon and Thayer) – Amends Section 8-11-83, relating to payroll deductions, to authorize the Comptroller General to deduct dues for the South Carolina Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers' Association from the compensation of state employees and retirees.

H.4282 (Reps. Tedder, Ballentine, Wooten, Wetmore, Henegan, J.L. Johnson and Pendarvis) – Amends Section 58-37-10, relating to energy efficiency, to adopt procedures encouraging energy efficiency and conservation, so as to require the Public Service Commission to adopt procedures to require electrical utilities and encourage gas utilities to plan for and invest in all cost-effective energy efficiency and demand-side resources.

H.4290 (Reps. Magnuson, A.M. Morgan, T.A. Morgan, Pace, May and Kilmartin) – Adds Section 59-101-60 to provide each public institution of higher learning annually shall report the total number of administrative and nonteaching positions that support or are associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the institution. Also prohibits these institutions from granting preference to applicants for admission, employment, or promotion on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin, subject to an exception.

H.4293 (Reps. Bannister, B.J. Cox, Willis, W. Newton, Herbkersman, Chapman and Lowe) – Adds Section 15-47-170 to provide the provisions of the “Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act” do not apply to a grand jury, or special grand jury, in a foreign jurisdiction that does not have the same powers and duties as provided in this state for grand juries, particularly regarding secrecy of grand jury proceedings and the grand jury’s power to indict.

H.4294 (Reps. Connell, Mitchell, Hager, Wheeler, and B. Newton) – Authorizes a rural county to suspend the millage cap for purposes of supporting a fire protection district.

H.4295 (Reps. White, McCabe, A.M. Morgan and T.A. Morgan) – A Joint Resolution to amend Sections 3, 8, and 18 of Article V of the Constitution of South Carolina, relating to the Judicial Department and specific courts, so as to provide that Supreme Court justices, judges on the Court of Appeals, and Administrative Law Court judges shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the General Assembly rather than being elected by the General Assembly. Would also amend Section 13 of Article V, relating to the Judicial Department and specific courts, to provide that Circuit Court judges shall be popularly elected and would repeal Section 27 of Article V relating to the Judicial Department and the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.

H.4303 (Reps. Caskey, Hager, Connell and Rose) – Amends Section 47-5-60, relating to inoculation of pets, so as to permit a certified vaccine technician to administer rabies inoculations when supervised by a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state. Also amends Section 47-5-90, relating to reports of animal bites to the health department, so as to require the date of birth of the person bitten by a pet or other animal.

H.4304 (Reps. Connell, Mitchell, Yow, Murphy, Elliott, Robbins, Collins, Pope and B. Newton) – Adds Section 15-75-30 to permit parental and filial consortium claims.