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For a complete look at federal and state action related to the coronavirus, visit MWC’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Facts and Resources website.
State House Update: April 8 Session
With South Carolina now under a “work or home” order from the governor, the legislature returned for a brief session on April 8, in an effort to ensure that state agencies would be able to continue operating under a continuing resolution after June 30 in the absence of an approved budget.
The continuing resolution adopted by the House allows state government to operate at the same funding level after July 1, establishes a fund to combat COVID-19, and restricts certain activities of Santee Cooper in order to give the legislature the ability to continue the work they started on Santee Cooper earlier this year.
However, the Senate did not wish to include the Santee Cooper provisions in the continuing resolution, and spent much longer than expected debating the language that the House sent to them. The Senate ultimately passed its own version of the continuing resolution which included modified Santee Cooper provisions, however this will require the House to return to Columbia to take up the amendments before the continuing resolution can be fully adopted. The governor also retains the ability to call the legislature back should the House not return on its own.
The House also adjourned without adopting a sine die resolution, which sets out what items can be considered if and when they return later this year. The legislature must approve a sine die resolution before May 14, or they will be at the will of the governor as to when they return to finish their work.
Members had previously discussed returning for six legislation days on September 15-17 and September 22-24 to finish their work for the year; however, those dates remain tentative with only the Senate having passed the sine die resolution at this point. A summary of the sine die provisions passed by the Senate may be found below.
Additionally, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) issued an executive order which allows furloughed employees to qualify for unemployment benefits at the same time as receiving support payments from their employers. The order directs the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce to consider payments to employees on furloughs as a form of severance pay, which allows the employee to maintain eligibility for unemployment benefits.
Senate Summary of Sine Die Resolution
Present – May 14
The House and Senate recessed subject to the call of the Speaker and the President on April 8. If legislators return to session before May 14, they will take up items in the regular order of business. However, we do not anticipate session dates during this time. Legislators may extend the May 14 date by two weeks based on the S.C. Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) estimate changes.
May 14 – September 15
Legislators may convene during this time at the call of the Senate President/Speaker of the House and may consider: the budget, gubernatorial vetoes, new sine die resolutions, appointments, local bills, conference committee reports, elections, any matters related to COVID-19, and any legislation that passed one chamber prior to May 14.
September 15 – September 24
Legislators will meet for a scheduled session under normal sine die conditions, and are allowed to consider: the budget, gubernatorial vetoes, new sine die resolutions, appointments, local bills, conference committee reports, elections, any matters related to COVID-19, and any legislation that passed one chamber prior to May 14.
September 24 – November 8
Legislators may convene during this time at the call of the Senate President/Speaker of the House and are limited toc considering: the budget, gubernatorial vetoes, new sine die resolutions, appointments and COVID-19 related matters.