South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Journal of the House of Representatives

NO. 2

JOURNAL

of the

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

of the

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

REGULAR SESSION BEGINNING TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025
________

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
(STATEWIDE SESSION)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 10:00 a.m.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rev. Charles E. Seastrunk, Jr., as follows:

Our thought for today is from Isaiah 29:14: "So I will again do amazing things with these people, shocking and amazing."

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come again to soak in the many ways for our people to do the work for the people of South Carolina. Bless each and every one to do the work for the people. Bless and keep our first responders and defenders of freedom. Grant them the blessings You provide for these Representatives and Staff. Lead us this day to fulfill the commitment to serve the people of South Carolina. Bless our World, Nation, President, State, Governor, Speaker, Staff, and all who contribute to this great cause. Bestow Your blessings on our Armed Forces and those who give of their lives to serve our Nation. Remember those who suffer from hidden wounds. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen.

Pursuant to Rule 6.3, the House of Representatives was led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America by the SPEAKER.

After corrections to the Journal of the proceedings of yesterday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.

MOTION ADOPTED

Rep. GRANT moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of James Lewis Solomon, Jr, which was agreed to.

SILENT PRAYER

The House stood in silent prayer for the family and friends of James Lewis Solomon, Jr.

SILENT PRAYER

The House stood in silent prayer family and friends of Major Ralph Stoney Bates.

ROLL CALL

The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows:

Alexander                Anderson                 Atkinson
Bailey                   Ballentine               Bamberg
Bannister                Bauer                    Beach
Bernstein                Bowers                   Bradley
Brewer                   Brittain                 Burns
Bustos                   Calhoon                  Caskey
Chapman                  Chumley                  Clyburn
Cobb-Hunter              Collins                  B. J. Cox
B. L. Cox                Crawford                 Cromer
Davis                    Dillard                  Duncan
Edgerton                 Erickson                 Forrest
Frank                    Gagnon                   Garvin
Gatch                    Gibson                   Gilliam
Gilreath                 Govan                    Grant
Guest                    Guffey                   Haddon
Hager                    Hardee                   Harris
Hart                     Hartnett                 Hartz
Hayes                    Herbkersman              Hewitt
Hiott                    Hixon                    Holman
Hosey                    Howard                   Huff
J. E. Johnson            J. L. Johnson            W. Jones
Jordan                   Kilmartin                Kirby
Landing                  Lawson                   Ligon
Long                     Lowe                     Luck
Magnuson                 Martin                   May
McCabe                   McCravy                  McDaniel
McGinnis                 Mitchell                 Montgomery
J. Moore                 T. Moore                 T. A. Morgan
Moss                     Murphy                   Neese
B. Newton                W. Newton                Oremus
Pace                     Pedalino                 Pope
Rankin                   Reese                    Rivers
Robbins                  Rose                     Rutherford
Sanders                  Schuessler               Sessions
G. M. Smith              M. M. Smith              Spann-Wilder
Stavrinakis              Taylor                   Teeple
Terribile                Vaughan                  Weeks
Wetmore                  Wheeler                  White
Whitmire                 Wickensimer              Williams
Willis                   Wooten                   Yow

Total Present--120

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. KING a leave of absence for the day.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. GILLIARD a leave of absence for the day due to a death in the family.

STATEMENT FOR JOURNAL

Today, December 4, 2024 I was unable to attend legislative session while participating at event at the White House and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. As I continue to explore resources for my district some conflicts are unavoidable. I deeply regret not being present but always remain committed to serving my constituents in my district.

Respectfully submitted,
Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, PhD,JD
South Carolina House District 31

STANDING COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

The SPEAKER announced the following Standing Committee Appointments:

AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

Atkinson, Lucas
Bauer, Heather
Burns, James Mikell "Mike"
Chumley, William M. "Bill"
Cromer, April
Forrest, Cally R. "Cal" Jr.
Gibson, Daniel
Haddon, Patrick B.
Harris, Robert J. "Rob"
Hartz, Charles V.
Hiott, David R.
Hixon, William M. "Bill"
May, Robert J. "RJ" III
McDaniel, Annie E.
Morgan, T. Alan
Neese, James M. "Mike"
Rankin, Luke
Reese, Robert T.

EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Alexander, Terry
Bowers, Phillip
Bradley, Jeffrey A. "Jeff"
Duncan, Adam L.
Erickson, Shannon S.
Frank, Stephen
Garvin, Kambrell H.
Gilliam, Leon D. "Doug"
Gilreath, Thomas "Lee"
Grant, Hamilton R.
Hartnett, Thomas F. "Tom" Jr.
Huff, William C. "Chris"
Kilmartin, John Gregory "Jay"
McGinnis, Timothy A. "Tim"
Rivers, Michael F. Sr.
Teeple, James E.
Terribile, Jackie R.
Vaughan, David

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Bailey, William H.
Bamberg, Justin T.
Bernstein, Beth E.
Brittain, Thomas C. "Case" Jr.
Calhoon, Paula Rawl
Govan, Jerry N. Jr.
Guest, Thomas Duval "Val" Jr.
Henderson-Myers, Rosalyn D.
Johnson, Jeffrey E. "Jeff"
Jordan, Wallace H. "Jay" Jr.
King, John Richard C.
Landing, Kathy
Luck, Jason S.
Martin, David
McCabe, Donald "Ryan" Jr.
McCravy, John R. III
Mitchell, Cody T.
Moore, Travis A.
Newton, William Weston J.
Robbins, Robby
Rose, Seth
Spann-Wilder, Tiffany
Wetmore, Elizabeth "Spencer"
Wheeler, William W. "Will" III
Wickensimer, Paul B.

LABOR, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE

Anderson, Carl L.
Brewer, Gary S. Jr.
Chapman, Donald G. "Don"
Gagnon, Craig A.
Gatch, Gil
Guffey, Brandon
Hager, William "Bill"
Herbkersman, William G. "Bill"
Johnson, Jermaine L. Sr.
Kirby, Roger K.
Lawson, M. Brian
Ligon, Thomas R. "Randy"
Oremus, Melissa Lackey
Pedalino, Fawn M.
Schuessler, Carla
Smith, Marvin "Mark"
Williams, Robert Q.
Wooten, Chris

MEDICAL, MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Beach, Thomas E.
Bustos, Joseph M. "Joe"
Cox, Bobby J.
Cox, Brandon L.
Davis, Sylleste H.
Edgerton, Sarita L.
Gilliard, Wendell G.
Hart, Christopher R. "Chris"
Holman, Harriet A.
Jones, Wendell Keith
Magnuson, Josiah
Montgomery, W. "Scott" IV
Moore, JA
Pace, Jordan S.
Sanders, Richard B. "Blake"
Sessions, Christopher "Heath"
White, Joseph S. "Joe"

WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Ballentine, Nathan
Bannister, Bruce W.
Caskey, Micajah "Micah" IV.
Clyburn, William "Bill"
Cobb-Hunter, Gilda
Collins, Neal
Crawford, Heather Ammons
Dillard, Chandra
Hayes, Jackie E. "Coach"
Hardee, Kevin
Hewitt, William Lee III
Hosey, Lonnie
Howard, Leon
Lowe, Phillip D. "Phil"
Long, Steven Wayne
Moss, Dennis C.
Murphy, Chris
Newton, Brandon Michael
Rutherford, J. Todd
Stavrinakis, Leonidas E. "Leon"
Taylor, Bill
Weeks, J. David
Whitmire, William R. "Bill"
Willis, Mark N.
Yow, Richard L. "Richie"

INTERSTATE COOPERATION COMMITTEE

Duncan, Adam L.
Gibson, N. Daniel
Govan, Jerry N. Jr.
Holman, Harriet A.
Willis, Mark N.

INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

Hartnett, Thomas F. "Tom" Jr.
Lawson, M. Brian
Luck, Jason S.
Moss, Dennis C.
Yow, Richard L. "Richie"

LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Atkinson, Lucas
Bailey, William H.
Bowers, Phillip
Brewer, Gary S. Jr.
Garvin, Kambrell H.
Gilliam, Leon Douglas "Doug"
Johnson, Jeffrey E. "Jeff"
Jones, Wendell K.
Landing, Kathy
McCravy, John R. III
McDaniel, Annie E.
McGinnis, Timothy A. "Tim"
Moore, Travis A.
Montgomery, Scott
Rivers, Michael
Sanders, Richard B. "Blake"
Smith, Marvin "Mark"
Williams, Robert
Wickensimer, Paul B.
Wooten, Chris

REGULATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & CYBERSECURITY COMMITTEE

Alexander, Terry
Anderson, Carl L.
Bradley, Jeffrey A. "Jeff"
Gilliard, Wendell G.
Guffey, Brandon
Hartz, Charles V.
Henderson-Myers, Rosalyn D.
Long, Steven Wayne
Martin, David
Moore, JA
Neese, James M. "Mike"
Taylor, Bill
Teeple, James E.

RULES COMMITTEE

Brittain, Thomas "Case" Jr.
Bustos, Joseph M. "Joe"
Caskey, Micajah P. "Micah" IV
Clyburn, William "Bill"
Forrest, Cally R. "Cal"
Hardee, Kevin J.
Hewitt, Lee
Hiott, David R.
Lowe, Phillip D. "Phil"
Mitchell, Cody
Newton, Brandon Michael
Pedalino, Fawn
Rankin, Luke
Wetmore, Elizabeth "Spencer"
Wheeler, William W. "Will" III

COMMITTEE OFFICERS

December 3, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The House Operations and Management Committee met on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, and elected the following officers:

Chairman             Rep. Patrick B. Haddon
First Vice-Chair         Rep. Heather Bauer
Second Vice-Chair       Rep. Brandon L. Cox
Secretary/Treasurer     Rep. Hamilton R. Grant

Sincerely,
Patrick Haddon
Chairman

December 3, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The House Legislative Ethics Committee met on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, and elected the following officers:

Chairman         Rep. Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr.
Vice-Chairman     Rep. J. David Weeks
Secretary           Rep. Beth E. Bernstein

Sincerely,
Lauren Trask
Chief Legal Counsel

December 4, 2024
Mr. Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
Post Office Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:

The House Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and elected the following officers:

Chairman           Rep. William M. "Bill" Hixon
First Vice-Chair       Rep. Patrick Haddon
Second Vice-Chair     Rep. Cal Forrest

Sincerely,
William "Bill" Hixon

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
P.O. Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
On behalf of the Education and Public Works Committee, I am pleased to inform you that the Honorable Shannon Erickson has been elected unanimously and by acclamation as Chair of the committee. Additionally, the Honorable Jeff Bradley and the Honorable Terry Alexander were elected unanimously and by acclamation to the position of First and Second Vice Chair, respectively.

We look forward to the 126th session of the General Assembly.

Sincerely,
Pierce McNair
Director of Research
House Education & Public Works Committee

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
P.O. Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The House Interstate Cooperation Committee met on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and elected the following officers:

Chairman           Rep. Mark N. Willis
First Vice-Chair       Rep. Daniel Gibson
Second Vice-Chair     Rep. Jerry N. Govan Jr.

Sincerely,
Mark N. Willis
Chairman

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The House Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee met today, and the following representatives have been nominated for the 126th Legislative Session:

Chairman               Rep. Dennis C. Moss
First Vice-Chairman       Rep. Richie Yow
Second Vice-Chairman     Rep. Brian Lawson
Secretary                 Rep. Jason Luck

Sincerely,
Dennis Moss

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid,
On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, the House Judiciary Committee organized. Below are the elected officials for the House Judiciary Committee for the 2025-2026 Session:

Chairman             Rep. Wm. Weston J. Newton
First Vice-Chair         Rep. Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan
Second Vice-Chair     Rep. John R. McCravy III

Sincerely,
Wm. Weston J. Newton

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
You will please take notice that the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee convened today in organizational session. The Committee elected Representative Bill Herbkersman as Chairman, Representative Gil Gatch as First Vice-Chairman, and Representative Carl Anderson as Second Vice-Chairman.

Sincerely,
Bill Herbkersman
Chairman
House Labor, Commerce & Industry Committee

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
P.O. Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The 3M Committee elected the following officers for the 2025-2026 Legislative Session:

Chairman           Rep. Sylleste H. Davis
Vice-Chairman       Rep. Bobby J. Cox

Sincerely,
Sylleste Davis

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
P.O. Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The House Legislative Oversight Committee met on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and elected the following officers:

Chairman           Rep. Jeffery E. "Jeff" Johnson
Vice-Chairman       Rep. Chris Wooten

Sincerely,
Jeffrey E. Johnson

December 4, 2024
The Honorable Charles Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The House Committee on Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence, and Cybersecurity met on December 4, 2024, for the purpose of electing new committee officers and to adopt committee rules for the 126th Legislative Session of the South Carolina House of Representatives. The results are as follows:

Chairman:               Rep. Jeffery A. "Jeff" Bradley, Chairman
First Vice-Chairman:       Rep. Carl L. Anderson
Second Vice-Chairman:   Rep. Terry Alexander

Sincerely,
Representative Jeffrey A. "Jeff" Bradley, Chairman
Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security Committee

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
The House Rules Committee met on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and elected the following officers listed below:

Chairman             Rep. Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV
Vice-Chairman         Rep. Cally R. "Cal" Forrest

Sincerely,
Maggie Chappell
Assistant Legal Counsel

December 4, 2024
Charles F. Reid
Clerk of the House
PO Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Reid:
Please allow this letter to serve as notice of the officers that were elected during a meeting of the Ways and Means Committee this morning.

Chairman               Rep. Bruce Bannister
First Vice-Chairman       Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter
Second Vice-Chairman     Rep. William R. "Bill" Whitmire

Sincerely,
Bruce W. Bannister, Chairman
Ways and Means Committee

Rep. FORREST moved that the House adjourn pending receipt of messages from committees to next meeting at noon on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

ADJOURNMENT

At 4:00 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. GRANT, adjourned in memory of James Lewis Solomon, Jr., to meet at noon on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

***

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