South Carolina House and Senate members returned to Columbia this last week to take up Redistricting, which is required every ten years and based on U.S. Census data. The House also took up and debated vaccine mandates, which impacts South Carolina employers.
As far as timing, with only a month before the Legislative Session gets into full swing (this is the second year of a two-year Session) and major holidays in between that time, there is little time for the House or Senate to return before January 11, 2022.
With the recent passing of long time Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, the Senate paid homage to its Finance Chairman and friend. Senators Nikki Setzler (D-Lexington), and Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee) remembered the life of Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence). Following kind words from the Senate about Senator Leatherman’s legacy, the Senate turned back to its business.
With the passing of Senator Leatherman and leaving the Senate Finance Committee Chairman position empty, President Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) resigned as President of the Senate in order to assume the role of Senate Finance Chairman.
Senator Thomas Alexander was nominated by Senator Peeler for Senate President. Senator Alexander will only be the second Senate President in South Carolina history.
Senator Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) will take over Senate Labor, Commerce, and Industry as Chairman, which was previously filled by Senator Alexander.
H. 3126, a bill by Representative Stewart Jones (R-Laurens), related to Covid-19 vaccine mandates, passed the House Ways and Means Committee and full House this week.
The bill prohibits private employers from firing an employee due to his or her vaccination status. H.3126 was amended in Committee to prohibit local governments and political subdivisions from implementing vaccine mandates. The bill went on to state that employers violating this new law could be vulnerable to civil liability and back pay.
The business community cried foul, objecting to the government mandate. The bill was further amended to provide the following:
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Sunnie Harmon & John DeWorken
LobbySC
Sunnie Harmon
864.337.1584
Sunnie@LobbySC.com
John DeWorken
864.905.5529
John@LobbySC.com