Crossover Report

Today marks the crossover deadline for the South Carolina General Assembly. What is crossover? We’ve got a great primer for you here, but in a nutshell, it is the deadline when a bill that originates in one chamber must move to the other chamber to be considered before the end of the session. Every state legislature across the country has some sort of crossover deadline (except Nebraska, which has a unicameral legislature).

The House wrapped up business on Thursday, and the Senate a week prior due to the budget schedule, so we now know which bills still have a chance at passing this year, and which ones will be moving on to January 2024.

Here are the bills we’re supporting that still have life for 2023:

WHAT AGENDA ITEMS MADE CROSSOVER

Bills to streamline licensing for workers got through the House (114-0) and has moved on to the Senate, where similar legislation passed overwhelmingly last year. A second bill that consolidates state workforce training programs passed the House (102-3) and is still alive in the Senate.
Penalty Enhancements for Hate Crimes passed the House in March and has passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Headquarter Recruitment would become easier under legislation that passed the House (103-10). The bill would change certain criteria on available tax credits, making it easier to recruit regional and national headquarters to the state.
Life Scholarships could be available to more students under a bill passed by the Senate that will prohibit dual-enrollment classes from negatively impacting GPA qualifications.
School Districts could get more flexibility in hiring teachers. A bill that will allow certain schools the ability to fill vacant teaching positions with non-certified teachers passed the Senate 39-1. A similar bill languished in a conference committee and died last year.

OTHER BILLS WE’RE TRACKING

ARPA funding round two has passed the House and the Senate. A majority of the funds will be allocated to the Rural Infrastructure Authority to award to existing applications for transformative water and sewer infrastructure projects. Additional money will be allocated to the Department of Commerce for significant economic development projects.
Expanded Airport Alcohol Sales passed the Senate. This allows travelers to take alcoholic drinks outside of the restaurants and to the general seating areas at the gates. This is allowed in most airports across the country, but not here in our state.
Creating workforce housing could become a bit easier under legislation that would allow local governments to use the Accommodations Tax funding tp fund workforce housing projects. As housing costs increase dramatically, we need new tools to help fund housing for first responders, hospitality workers, teachers, and other critical workers in our economy.

Questions on these bills, or on the crossover process as a whole? Email us, we’ll be happy to help!