[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6320043,"mediaKeyId","2360000-e60124adfaf3c813c803ffa6c00b7766","parentId",2360000,"title","Committee approves proviso restricting DEI uses of state funds after extended debate","audioSeconds",1281,"startMs",1331000,"endMs",2612000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2360000-e60124adfaf3c813c803ffa6c00b7766&start=1331&end=2612","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2360000-e60124adfaf3c813c803ffa6c00b7766/thumbnail_1331000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6320043/South-Carolina/Committee-approves-proviso-restricting-DEI-uses-of-state-funds-after-extended-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320043-9a098b2847c20366420c3aed4a61bcdf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775502681&Signature=h3wZDCZZ7duWyPhNfAo0VIGFZk9ncTJNIstMKDEj4fx1cnD7X21jPOKfL2dhhcrHUW2bWIFY95tWzj~jTlvPTTyZcUveVINVPX0vQo4oxdqBKUK~kP82f0XJxpXjGCQ7XKeZU-llJa7OAcSgGmt-eWLMGboMawj-S-1CZsUnB~b8VGPN1FwxAR-3y5KwAmTz-PN4pjGQnPY-QrVVAk8BcU2~53IqCNyPAC7db0CZvLtzF~oUAd7vDSNaqwT6E9GXFY6WxoBhre3ZhAb7vtS2wwhXBSqRLZg-YjiG7Hf6thuyu1YeGpfcpYs9oj-1Z9zvwJ2zMguJyV2dJIYMgUAqKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Ways and Means Committee","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The House Ways and Means committee approved an amendment that restricts state funds from being used to create or mandate DEI offices, compel DEI statements from applicants, give hiring preference based on race or gender, or require DEI training — while explicitly exempting academic instruction, scholarly research, student organizations, short‑term guest speakers and permitted data collection.

Representative Ballantine presented the amendment as a \"scalpel approach\" intended to provide precision after prior broader proposals. \"What we've got here is we've got a scalpel approach, which is more precision, which is a better way to handle this,\" Representative Ballantine told the committee.

Members pressed for specifics on scope and impact. Representative Weeks asked for a definition of what qualifies as a DEI program; Ballantine said he could not enumerate every program but said the change is intended to align state spending with merit‑based decisions and federal compliance. Representative Dillard raised questions about whether the amendment would apply to public institutions only or to all institutions of higher education that receive state funds; the author said the proviso applies to entities receiving state funds and that the intent was to limit the measure to public funding.

Representative Cobb Hunter, referencing prior subcommittee sessions, said committee members had asked institutions how much state money they spend on DEI and reported that institutions had said no state funds were being spent on DEI. Questions were also raised about whether to add explicit language addressing legacy admissions; the author declined to add that language at this time, saying he preferred to move the amendment forward and revisit other proposals later.

After extended discussion, committee members approved the amendment by voice vote. Supporters said the language clarifies permissible activity while preventing perceived preferential treatment; opponents cautioned that the amendment could be unnecessary if institutions are already not spending state funds on DEI or could have unintended consequences.

Ending: The committee adopted the DEI proviso amendment and moved on; members indicated they may revisit related questions (for example, legacy admissions or private institutions receiving state dollars) in later consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Ways and Means Committee -- Ways and Means Committee 02/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee passed an amendment limiting the use of state funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and activities across state agencies and public institutions, while carving out academic instruction, research, student organizations, guest speakers, certain student‑achievement activities and data collection.","taxTitle","Ways and Means, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17545,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6320050,"Committee approves proviso to bar funding for abortion providers after debate over \"other services\"",488,940000,1428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2360000-e60124adfaf3c813c803ffa6c00b7766&start=940&end=1428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2360000-e60124adfaf3c813c803ffa6c00b7766/thumbnail_940000.jpg","/articles/6320050/South-Carolina/Committee-approves-proviso-to-bar-funding-for-abortion-providers-after-debate-over-other-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320050-0bac88b68a12820c089027dd2eff0cc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775502681&Signature=CQ-WXZvU8LVV6ZJW-HdO9w-BHsTaN25QIDzbB~iCjBLR6rf8ijGd06DSTk0QBdPRTxwwU5unLle8r21wMasPr4UYGnOTfxN1jAKvyZ0298wtKd~Mikt4syhLF8EUQoa1da0g3V9wteeoMZyA9tRNNqrIwUB8CEHZBPjx~brvcK8-FZJpxGZPjWSBpQAgAVcgc50HO1JhA7A57HWIbEqBs2MKFqXxUc6Wsr62VRGdajIy3CTdMj4UyMwXSrhSCUl~oPeQNRXaMEiCogNEtMuUauBTDNRFgPTVo~rBwE-c-QZ2RZlGZPbx~Tb1X0GOx1cRWpIkh-CoX-CobLlQtLMTdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways and Means committee voted to prohibit state funding for abortion providers after an exchange among members about what the amendment would mean for non‑abortion health services.

Representative Long explained the amendment as a measure to conform budget language to the governor’s executive action and to existing agency practice. \"This is consistent with what the governor has done by executive order,\" Representative Long said, adding the amendment \"conforms to the law.\"

Representative Cobb Hunter asked whether the change had already been implemented, noting past actions on the issue. \"Haven't we already done this? Tell me why we need to do this,\" Cobb Hunter asked. Representative Long replied that the executive order and court actions have addressed the issue but that the amendment would make the prohibition explicit in the budget language and would be subject to any contrary court ruling.

Representative Dillard pressed the author on the meaning of \"other services,\" asking whether non‑abortion care such as wellness checks or pap smears could be affected. Representative Long responded that the amendment targets funding to organizations that provide abortion services and that the state should not fund what the author described as the facilities’ abortion‑related operations. \"There is funding for 'other services' ... to keep the lights on at Planned Parenthood and other ... clinics,\" Representative Long said, asserting the amendment would prevent taxpayer dollars from funding those operations.

Dillard said she was concerned that the change could deny low‑income women access to basic health care provided by some clinics. Representative Long replied that required health services would continue to be provided by other providers in many suburban and urban areas, and said the proviso was intended to prevent tax dollars from funding abortion‑related operations.

The committee approved the amendment by voice vote. The amendment’s author characterized it as preemptive and conforming to applicable federal and state court rulings; committee members’ questions focused on whether services unrelated to abortion would be inadvertently affected.

Ending: The committee added the funding prohibition to the budget provisos and moved on to other amendments. The committee record shows the amendment passed by voice vote and that members requested clarity about the amendment’s scope for non‑abortion services.","The Ways and Means committee passed an amendment prohibiting state funding to abortion providers; lawmakers debated whether the restriction could affect non‑abortion health services such as wellness checks and cervical cancer screenings.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6320055,"Ways and Means adopts package of non‑funding proviso amendments; dollar changes deferred",0,336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2360000-e60124adfaf3c813c803ffa6c00b7766&start=336&end=336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2360000-e60124adfaf3c813c803ffa6c00b7766/thumbnail_336000.jpg","/articles/6320055/South-Carolina/Ways-and-Means-adopts-package-of-nonfunding-proviso-amendments-dollar-changes-deferred","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320055-a91f35172b44504e682b6dfe6b629796/orig.mp4?Expires=1775502681&Signature=l06MaWItwok5WKOMvpkzwmnmMjB7P1Ca1pHKB1Mw9XEGYB7E6TuWXZV2IpGcYAOvMme5a~uHDuSVApOx2oELgQnTUqAxq8~st1lwsGfHFh4vuylUotpvKMbLs-C4aDyFJr-Zls7A8Rq~Jk-qfgDqxWpbrOj6taJayyDcjcDRT81B97QoONToudV~gI2DfIfriuH8cBp7TVQpEP8JJnBCfzXKZEHoMy6hQFDAKqsyewBA9OmbQNA7AZlO92Iirtwyc5hCWSLk04PIENXnJ10ggBVxdWeqcV2dNYuVgB2cmqikGxFbky3iL-TOKDLit0VUlmS1CvwlHu20YczC9p8egA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways and Means committee adopted a set of non‑funding proviso amendments Tuesday and agreed to take up dollar amendments after the committee completes spreadsheet work tomorrow.

The package included provisions on fraud mitigation for benefit checks, limits on mandatory student health insurance, a cut to vacant full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions, adjustments to university fee‑waiver limits, and several program‑specific clarifications affecting broadband, water systems and interscholastic athletics.

Why it matters: The provisos set policy boundaries and reporting requirements that guide agency implementation and oversight. The committee’s approvals change how agencies must document practices (fraud mitigation), alter institutional discretion (fee waivers), and require agencies to report staffing reductions by a specified date.

Key approvals and summaries

• Fraud mitigation proviso (author/explainer: Chair Bannister): The proviso requires state agencies that issue benefit checks to develop and report measures to detect and stop fraud. The language excludes payments for services rendered or procurement disbursements and asks agencies to describe verification, issuance/distribution security and monitoring procedures. Chair Bannister asked members to adopt the proviso; the committee approved it by voice vote. Ms. Scott Minor told the committee she did not believe the measure would require agencies to hire additional staff.

• Student health insurance (Representative Ballantine): Prohibits institutions from automatically enrolling and charging students for campus health insurance; institutions must provide an opt‑in mechanism. Ballantine said the change responds to students and families who had been automatically charged when they overlooked the insurance line on enrollment forms. The amendment passed by voice vote.

• Vacancy reductions (Department of Administration analysis; explained by Chair Bannister): Using a 2021 vacancy baseline adjusted for post‑2023 authorizations, the proviso directs the State Division of Human Resources and the Executive Budget Office (EBO) to reduce each agency’s vacant FTEs by 25 positions, with a December 1 report required listing eliminations. Examples cited in committee remarks: the House of Representatives (4 FTEs) and the University of South Carolina (131 FTEs); a figure for the Department of Corrections was discussed in the hearing record (reported in the meeting transcript as \"5 79 FTEs\"). The amendment passed by voice vote.

• University fee waivers (Representative Taylor): Raises the statutory limit on institutional fee waivers tied to undergraduate tuition revenue; the 4% cap (based on the prior year) has not been updated in about two decades and the proviso would increase the limit by an additional 4 percentage points. Taylor emphasized the waivers are institutional funds, not appropriations from the general fund. The amendment passed by voice vote.

• Bus liability language (Representative Murphy): Clarifies that school districts may include liability insurance requirements as a condition for outside groups using school buses; the change makes such coverage optional for districts rather than mandatory. Passed by voice vote.

• Water systems distribution (Representative Murphy): The amendment makes clear that at least 60% of certain funds should go to small municipalities and rural water authorities, with up to 40% available to larger systems serving more than 30,000 customers. The change was described as providing flexibility and passed by voice vote.

• Broadband / cable certificate timing (Representative Moss): Clarifies the application and franchise process for cable/video service certificates, aiming to reduce delays that can impede rural broadband deployment; Passed by voice vote.

• Interscholastic athletics (Representative Lowe): Removes a 200‑student limitation so students from small private schools can participate in public school teams when appropriate; Passed by voice vote.

• Bridge program (Representative Whitmire): The committee struck an existing bridge‑program proviso at the Education Oversight Committee’s recommendation; Passed by voice vote.

• Palmetto Excel language (Representative Whitmire): Reinstates deleted language related to Palmetto Excel; Passed by voice vote.

Process and next steps: Committee members agreed to defer dollar amendments until the spreadsheet reviews are completed tomorrow; the committee recessed to the call of the chair and will notify members of the reconvening time.

Votes at a glance (committee action)

• Proviso — Fraud mitigation: Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Author/explainer: Chair Bannister. Note: agencies must report measures and incidents.

• Proviso — Student health insurance (opt‑in): Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Ballantine.

• Proviso — Vacancy reductions (25 FTE reduction per agency from adjusted 2021 baseline): Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Explainer: Chair Bannister. Report due Dec. 1.

• Proviso — Department of Commerce loan satisfaction (amend. 4): Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Stefanakis. Committee discussion indicated the amendment would satisfy the entirety of a prior loan under the Department of Commerce.

• Proviso — University fee waivers (raise cap): Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Taylor. Current statutory cap referenced as 4% of prior year undergraduate tuition revenue; amendment raises that cap by 4 percentage points.

• Proviso — Bus liability optionality: Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Murphy. Allows districts to require liability coverage as a condition for bus use.

• Proviso — Water systems funding flexibility: Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Murphy. At least 60% directed to smaller systems; up to 40% to systems >30,000 customers.

• Proviso — Funding prohibition for abortion providers: Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Long. (Debated; see separate article.)

• Proviso — DEI restrictions across state entities: Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Ballantine. (Extensive debate; see separate article.)

• Proviso — Bridge program language strike: Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Whitmire.

• Proviso — Broadband/cable certificate timing (rural focus): Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Moss.

• Proviso — Interscholastic athletics (remove 200‑student limit): Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Lowe.

• Proviso — Palmetto Excel language reinstatement: Passed (voice vote; ayes have it). Mover: Representative Whitmire.

Speakers who contributed to the package discussion included Chair Bannister; Representative Ballantine; Representative Stefanakis; Representative Taylor; Representative Murphy; Representative Long; Representative Whitmire; Representative Moss; Representative Lowe; Representative Cobb Hunter; Ms. Scott Minor; and others who asked clarifying questions during debate.

Ending: With the non‑funding provisos adopted, the committee paused and will return to consider dollar amendments after completing morning spreadsheet work.","The House Ways and Means committee approved a slate of non‑funding proviso amendments covering fraud mitigation, university fee waivers, FTE reductions and a range of program clarifications, and postponed dollar amendments until spreadsheets are complete.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves proviso restricting DEI uses of state funds after extended debate

Committee approves proviso to bar funding for abortion providers after debate over "other services"

Ways and Means adopts package of non‑funding proviso amendments; dollar changes deferred