[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6104232,"mediaKeyId","2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299","parentId",2791812,"title","Committee adopts subcommittee amendment and advances broad energy bill covering siting, procurement, small modular reactors and joint projects","audioSeconds",5046,"startMs",2009000,"endMs",7055000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299&start=2009&end=7055","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299/thumbnail_2009000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6104232/South-Carolina/Committee-adopts-subcommittee-amendment-and-advances-broad-energy-bill-covering-siting-procurement-small-modular-reactors-and-joint-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104232-e0160f3b747b5b65789089014ff11f79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139816&Signature=T3g296gxEl8vCnD-rCkn4r~UlPa4CzrC~GJAkRFuWV~CIjg-GDboANVed0v2NvgsmotjbqNmQYU6hBNPbw0IRaRaGKV6Tb-WyIglnSgIQwq1NL-sGR0hRkBUux2UmKK77Kw-Jv1vK-zcwbKRaBdaE994LIpFL8KJMS6OUwQRiuviyfo9~nM6YcLm4a2QTy~2dwLEOeVkLzGPxveVRRctvRVPxMZZtMYKO7ScfCG4Kk77I~MkaowFgW9te9v~97KHkLV~MIQVyMXVGVy6R-eyrlnz2frDBMOjL69zzeZ6-V1kAPydlGb9UOuS-GgDyevhndo7BHkhiP-jgJdPpyRxBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Judiciary Committee took up a comprehensive energy omnibus (identified in the hearing as 03/1200 / House Bill 3309) and adopted the subcommittee amendment as the working document before reporting the measure favorably.

Breeden, staff for the committee, walked members through the bill section by section. The legislation would expand statutory duties for the Public Service Commission (PSC); require procedural schedules and discovery limits for commission proceedings; create an Energy Policy and Research Institute housed at a university to prepare policy briefings; and encourage evaluation of specific generation projects — including joint projects between Santee Cooper and investor-owned utilities, energy storage, and hydrogen-capable generation.

Key provisions described on the record include:
- Authorization for a narrowly defined joint resource: the subcommittee narrowed language so Santee Cooper may partner specifically with Dominion Energy on a proposed natural gas plant at the Kennedy's brownfield site rather than broadly authorizing any partnership.
- A six-month agency permitting decision timeline for designated energy infrastructure applications, with a required pre-filing meeting and a mechanism to list application deficiencies. The amendment adopted by the subcommittee preserved an ability to extend the deadline by agreement in appropriate circumstances.
- A pilot program reference for small modular reactors (SMRs) and encouragement of advanced nuclear development; however, Senator Ott offered and the committee adopted an amendment striking the SMR pilot authorization and converting it to a requirement that utilities report on the potential for such technologies.
- An expansion of net-metering caps for nonresidential customers from 1,000 kW to 5,000 kW in one section.
- Provisions for competitive procurement of renewable resources and changes to integrated resource plan (IRP) procedures and discovery schedules at the PSC.

Witnesses from utilities and balancing authorities — Keller Kasam (Dominion Energy South Carolina), Tiger Wells (Duke Energy South Carolina), Jimmy Staten (Santee Cooper), and John Fripp (Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina) — testified under oath. They described the bill as a means to provide regulatory clarity, shorten permitting and appellate timelines, and bring new generation online faster to meet rapid load growth. Santee Cooper and Dominion emphasized a joint gas-fired project at Kennedy's, citing existing transmission infrastructure at that brownfield site.

Committee members debated whether the bill would shift land-use control from counties to the state. A contested amendment (Senator Elliott’s amendment 2) that would have removed an acreage threshold for classification of a major utility facility (thereby leaving only a megawatt threshold) triggered extended debate; opponents said local land-use concerns and buffer requirements are best handled locally, while proponents said adding an acreage threshold would subject many solar projects to the siting act and slow deployment. The committee tabled Elliott’s amendment by recorded show-of-hands vote; the chair announced the tabling vote as 11–9 on the transcript.

Other amendments included Senator Ott’s measures: he successfully offered an amendment to study and report on the feasibility of using domestic wood products for electric generation, and an amendment to remove the SMR pilot program (replacing it with a reporting requirement). The committee adopted the subcommittee amendment as the working document and reported the bill favorably; senators indicated they expect many floor amendments.

The transcript records multiple technical questions about appeals procedures, who may intervene in expedited permit proceedings, and the relationship between state and federal authorities for projects that cross state lines. Several senators and witnesses urged that the Office of Regulatory Staff remain an active gatekeeper and that appeals preserve sufficient record for appellate review; staff and the committee said additional amendments on appeals procedure would be offered on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Judiciary Committee -- Full Judiciary Committee on S.52, S.76, S.85, S.114, S.208, S.270, S.405, S.446 and H.3309 Tuesday, March 25, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate committee advanced a comprehensive energy bill after adopting a subcommittee amendment that narrows some joint‑ownership language and preserves expedited permitting and IRP reforms, while removing a pilot authorization for small modular reactors via amendment.","taxTitle","Judiciary, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17641,"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},6104237,"Senate advances overhaul of criminal-gang and racketeering laws; adds youth-prevention fund amendment on floor",4050,630000,4680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299&start=630&end=4680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299/thumbnail_630000.jpg","/articles/6104237/South-Carolina/Senate-advances-overhaul-of-criminal-gang-and-racketeering-laws-adds-youth-prevention-fund-amendment-on-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104237-8bae98c991b5f949e3eaeafd1ea9ac74/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139816&Signature=d~Vjq4u74G4bESNm3Eu8hQxhGDd0J6NEcX2TjGA7x38bl0tZtdq~eA6p9SxfPc5WIJ988-alwsHyfFJWwZFIzXTRExkOxspOofnZpmWICKGweEiVWlyZBgnbSEIEKcUCtjwCeHKdrUr9VNBz00B6v0VCImj4SFaxzQXmyhK0jS4ZFM4ykNTHxLvvyC5KCQ8kVlg6a4Sb8-GgweG7jq~9prkzRM3yC0q7icxUvNc50ec8Hi~zvuz1Sj24azqEf7Di8LbO2URTeejzs0N7DHvZY3koLyWYGt8ChEwtrVGOcY~P0fIG06fm6sdETHow1cN1yNzdVFLqEUh7fFKFUdaxsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary Committee reported S.76 — legislation to modernize South Carolina’s criminal-gang and anti-racketeering law — out of committee after a lengthy review that sponsors said draws on federal RICO models and work by multiple legislators.

Senator Hembree, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the prior criminal-gang statute had been “virtually unenforceable” and that staff and outside experts used an FBI survey of model elements to draft the current proposal. The bill contains separate sections for a criminal-gang statute and a state-level racketeering (RICO-style) measure and partially mirrors federal racketeering law so courts can rely on an established body of precedent, Hembree said.

Jimmy Staten, president and CEO of Santee Cooper, testified at the committee that the measure would enable Santee Cooper to partner with investor-owned utilities to build generation at existing brownfield sites — specifically singling out the Kennedy's site as a candidate — and that a joint plant could lower overall customer costs. Keller Kasam of Dominion Energy South Carolina and Tiger Wells of Duke Energy also described the bill’s provisions affecting permitting, procurement and large generation projects.

The subcommittee added technical edits requested during review, including updates to terminology (for example replacing “retail theft” with “organized retail crime” following changes earlier in the session) and changing references to agencies (a transcript speaker asked to change an older reference to the Department of Health and Environmental Control to the Department of Environmental Services). The subcommittee also narrowed the joint-ownership authorization for Santee Cooper so that it applied specifically to a proposed natural-gas plant at Kennedy's rather than a broader, indefinite authority.

Senator Devine offered an amendment to establish a “Youth Violence Prevention and Reduction Fund” to be housed at the Department of Public Safety. Under the amendment, 2.5% of fines collected under the new criminal provisions would be deposited in the fund and used for grants supporting youth violence prevention and gang-prevention activities; the fund would begin the fiscal year after the act’s effective date and would cap at $1.5 million. Devine agreed to hold the amendment for floor consideration and to supply additional fiscal estimates requested by other senators.

Committee members also discussed the statutory definition of racketeering activity. Senator Edgefield questioned language that cross-referenced federal law; an exchange on the record noted citations to 18 U.S.C. § 1961 in the proposed state definition. Supporters said the inclusion was intended to align state and federal definitions and rely on federal case law, though some senators suggested clarifying language to avoid confusion.

After debate and the subcommittee’s technical edits, the committee voted to report the bill favorably; the transcript shows a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The transcript records broad policy testimony from industry and state law enforcement witnesses; it also shows the sponsor agreed to carry certain technical changes to the floor. Senator Hembree and others emphasized the bill’s goal of providing prosecutors and police workable tools to address expanding gang activity and cross‑state criminal networks.","The committee advanced S.76, an updated criminal gang and racketeering bill that sponsors say will make state law enforceable and align it with federal models; a separate amendment to create a youth violence-prevention fund tied to fines was proposed for floor consideration and was held for further fiscal detail.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104242,"Committee adopts amendment to attempted-murder statute to address intent and transferred intent",100,240000,340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299&start=240&end=340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6104242/South-Carolina/Committee-adopts-amendment-to-attempted-murder-statute-to-address-intent-and-transferred-intent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104242-60368ae564ad5f238fe3110166d8d811/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139816&Signature=i28Cc1-ZqsmWzVk-Qy84AAo41HbtONdeZjrEy~pJCinmJgF7Al7VDUEfSmFq7ci-eK4KMGrxvMPm5woTn4G494MlHd7sK6ToiZcMZoChAEaUMIbsZxjwUt1dIqHi5UHJT2glCyfOJO~SCzFcPzHIgEiFPDRtr1wat8ExVDnssACSQy2e~j-66-1wM6evMW4xfuTrXZJrscgVOKQwm8c1lfO1XXZKGYeyhEdOHy1ESMd4jpj8C5UB9OUE5-qMLTBx-PM0tPcnW-0OHIrwVaFUUHdxQBFR~lQEn2m70LK9~Uo8LWiwwnsn9LanAXprBgHOsVbhn-AYKroowvkQakCRIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a subcommittee amendment to S.270, a bill that changes the definition of attempted murder to address gaps created by case law on intent.

Senator Adams, the subcommittee chair, explained the bill would remove the requirement that prosecutors prove a defendant had a specific intent to kill and instead make attempted murder cover “an unlawful act of a violent nature that causes injury to another person with malice.” The subcommittee’s amendment (referred to as Tab H / Delta 10) refines that language by adding transferred-intent language and by defining an “act of a violent nature” as one that, if completed, would likely cause death or great bodily injury.

Sharon, the committee staff member, said the South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination presented the amendment to the subcommittee and requested other technical edits. Committee members discussed a related cleanup to a first-degree assault and battery provision to avoid duplication with the new attempted-murder language.

The chair called for and the committee adopted the amendment after a motion and second; the amendment received a voice vote in favor with no recorded opposition. The committee then voted to report the amended bill favorably.

The amendment narrows the statutory language to cover violent acts that are likely to cause death or great bodily injury and explicitly addresses transferred intent, which sponsors said will close prosecutorial loopholes raised by case law.

No roll-call vote was recorded on the transcript for the amendment or the final committee action; both were taken by voice vote after the subcommittee recommendation.","The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted a subcommittee amendment to S.270 that broadens attempted murder to cover unlawful violent acts likely to cause death or great bodily injury and adds language to address transferred intent; the bill was reported favorably.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104244,"Senate panel advances bill to raise age for homicide-by-child-abuse charge to 18",2,152000,154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299&start=152&end=154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299/thumbnail_152000.jpg","/articles/6104244/South-Carolina/Senate-panel-advances-bill-to-raise-age-for-homicide-by-child-abuse-charge-to-18","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104244-c98b77f87220241b2a7e98a95c6e3f3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139816&Signature=B-V4bxWsgRSIZJgLUAQfcJBn98WdJDSyQS7cI0EhexcqZT6579ycbyq~32OKQIv0qm7xXs2MCZekzNkUaiulNVyQUwRhNgVUGL7fFxkQ6ZOlFbaLAwUgKB8G0Shg~N6mHp4iQyZtawrCZVwRQ~~24hFoRo8CT3xYL3zNd6SPEOrWVmcmy0sfPAovvw2tdEZgD0~ILIAXrTCT0iEmmv9jAiGmSUNL6-K-f9IGUMNNp05vNDDeEgZNsKyCNk~sUfXUfUOontitT1C24MwvY1D61vNIHrCx98u~jHr1IxiRO-sNrtIfa07cU7Ip-KdrgNrydVq5MQXr1NSq3eWTqu3wow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced S.405, a bill that would raise the maximum age for a victim in a homicide-by-child-abuse and neglect charge from 11 to 18.

The change would allow prosecutors to charge a person with homicide by child abuse if the deceased was under age 18 instead of the current 11-year threshold. Sharon, a committee staff member, told the panel the same bill passed the Senate in February 2024 and then “died in the House Judiciary Committee.”

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Adams, told members the subcommittee had voted unanimously in favor and that solicitors who testified supported the change, reporting past prosecutorial difficulties tied to the lower age ceiling. “Solicitors testified that this would help them out because they've actually had a couple issues regarding the age,” Adams said.

Committee members raised no questions beyond confirming the bill matched the measure that previously passed the Senate. The chair called for a motion; a member moved and seconded to report the bill favorably. The committee approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

If enacted, the statute would permit homicide-by-child-abuse prosecutions when the victim is younger than 18; the bill text as presented does not change any other elements of the offense described in existing code.

The committee moved directly from S.405 to other agenda items after the vote. No amendments were offered or recorded on the transcript for S.405.","The Senate Judiciary committee advanced S.405, which would change the required maximum age for victims in homicide-by-child-abuse cases from 11 to 18, after unanimous subcommittee support and no opposition in the full committee.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104228,"Committee backs electric rate-stabilization proposal to smooth utility rate swings, with ORS oversight",97,2002000,2099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299&start=2002&end=2099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791812-28571a4dab1db779cc43aa96473fe299/thumbnail_2002000.jpg","/articles/6104228/South-Carolina/Committee-backs-electric-rate-stabilization-proposal-to-smooth-utility-rate-swings-with-ORS-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104228-eb5677e6798a8995df6d9427f880a476/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139816&Signature=Veerdrhpt85JqSCS0qs7OntsQ3NmmVznI-RROLFrmhYVRoOFrPySy1wdfwAVJ3dRAlCTxDR-Uq2sOIIuUgYoXYvC6xmBSlpdxZRrNGZAgLBVnScuCeMjTS56a3TnO5aBOBYN1g6lhAQojKN1bpd6HEmIH5HDypZL4kNHA0NdRsYNQ~E-WQBkJtzKGyzA8irQO3nvsUD62vYBu3b1LbkXu32-W2YueCa7PjkTlC0nsokHDeTxVOapS4gutMTlbt7S1xb-hUjPboX6fre410RDi9K8-EXB2qh3E32Vt9uQuf1KVyf-qKN77yfJONncTGC2my0CP4dadHmelZZDudsB5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced S.446, the Electric Rate Stabilization Act (ERSA), which would permit electric utilities to request periodic rate adjustments to reflect changes in investment, revenues and expenses rather than waiting for multi-year rate cases.

Breeden, committee staff, told members the proposal closely follows South Carolina’s natural-gas rate-stabilization framework with added customer protections. Under the bill as explained to the committee, utilities would file surveillance reports each quarter showing changes in expenses, revenue and rate-base investments. If a utility’s return on equity varied by 0.5 percentage points above or below the baseline set in the most recent general-rate order, the utility or the commission could seek a rate adjustment. ORS and other parties could participate; the subcommittee amendment clarifies that parties may conduct discovery and participate in the proceedings.

Breeden said ERSA would add protections not present in the gas statute: any new electric generating facility larger than 250 megawatts would undergo a full prudency review once completed, utilities would file a full rate case at least once every five years to reestablish baselines, and the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) would be authorized additional auditor positions paid for by participating utilities. The staff presentation emphasized safeguards designed to protect consumers — for example, final orders would remain subject to party petitions and evidentiary hearings.

Tiger Wells of Duke Energy and other utility witnesses told the committee that more frequent, smaller adjustments reduce rate shock and allow for timelier recovery of prudently incurred costs while preserving ORS oversight and the right of parties to challenge filings. Committee members discussed workload and staffing for ORS; witnesses and staff said the bill permits ORS to add auditors for participating utilities and to seek additional resources if needed.

The committee adopted the subcommittee amendment clarifying participation and discovery, and it reported the bill favorably to the floor. No roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript; actions on the measure were taken by voice vote.","Senators advanced S.446, an electric rate-stabilization act modeled after the state’s gas program that would allow utilities to adjust rates more frequently to reflect investment and revenue changes, while requiring prudency reviews for very large new generating facilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts subcommittee amendment and advances broad energy bill covering siting, procurement, small modular reactors and joint projects

Senate advances overhaul of criminal-gang and racketeering laws; adds youth-prevention fund amendment on floor

Committee adopts amendment to attempted-murder statute to address intent and transferred intent

Senate panel advances bill to raise age for homicide-by-child-abuse charge to 18

Committee backs electric rate-stabilization proposal to smooth utility rate swings, with ORS oversight