[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-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",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6100882,"mediaKeyId","2811409-8081ceb3c2e2814fd001749d94ae03eb","parentId",2811409,"title","Committee pauses restroom-access bill after retailers and building-code concerns raised","audioSeconds",887,"startMs",1483000,"endMs",2370000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2811409-8081ceb3c2e2814fd001749d94ae03eb&start=1483&end=2370","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6100882/South-Carolina/Committee-pauses-restroom-access-bill-after-retailers-and-building-code-concerns-raised","mediaUrl","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 3543, described by its sponsor as a state-level version of the \"Restroom Access Act\" (often called Ali’s Law), was presented to the Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee and continued for further consideration.

Representative Ramos Williams explained the bill as a simple mandate requiring retail businesses with employee restroom facilities to permit customers and prospective purchasers to use those facilities when requested, particularly where a customer has an urgent medical need. Williams cited the origin story for \"Ali’s Law,\" describing a 14-year-old in Illinois who was denied access to an employee restroom and noting that, as of January 2024, he said at least 20 other states had adopted similar laws.

Krista Henson of the South Carolina Retail Association testified that while the bill has sympathetic intent, singling out retailers and requiring them to open employee facilities to the public could create operational, safety and legal concerns, particularly for small stores that sometimes have only one employee or whose employee restroom is accessed through secured areas. \"There are potential unintended consequences that could come from this bill,\" Henson told the committee.

Representative Chapman, noting building-code requirements from the International Code Council and the International Building Code, explained that restroom and plumbing requirements already vary by occupancy and square footage and that requiring public access to employee restrooms could impose additional burdens or renovations on small retailers whose existing layout does not accommodate public access.

Committee members debated the balance between customer needs and business burdens. Representative Williams and other members said the bill is not intended to force new construction or additional toilets, but to require access when an employee restroom exists and a customer has an urgent need.

After discussion, a motion to continue House Bill 3543 passed unanimously; the vote was recorded as unanimous on the record but exact counts were not specified. The subcommittee asked sponsors and stakeholders to continue conversations about operational exceptions and implementation specifics before the bill returns for further consideration.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee -- L.C.I. Business and Commerce Subcommittee Mar 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Williams’ Restroom Access Act (House Bill 3543), modeled on \"Ali’s Law,\" was presented and then continued after retailers and a building-code expert warned of operational, safety and code compliance issues for small retailers.","taxTitle","Labor, Commerce and Industry, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17508,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6100887,"Subcommittee continues cash-payment bill after retailers raise operational concerns",455,1008000,1463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2811409-8081ceb3c2e2814fd001749d94ae03eb&start=1008&end=1463","/articles/6100887/South-Carolina/Subcommittee-continues-cash-payment-bill-after-retailers-raise-operational-concerns","House Bill 3971, a proposal to require retail businesses in South Carolina to accept cash for transactions up to $2,000, was presented in the Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee and continued for further consideration.

Representative Ligon presented the bill on the committee floor; the text as discussed would require retailers to accept cash for in-person transactions of $2,000 or less but would not apply to automated services or online purchases.

Krista Henson, executive director of the South Carolina Retail Association, told the subcommittee the majority of retailers already accept cash but cautioned against statutory requirements that limit retailers’ business decisions. \"Some businesses, especially small ones, may choose to only accept cash to avoid fees,\" Henson said, adding that other retailers choose to accept cards because of their systems and staffing. She asked lawmakers to consider unintended operational and security costs if the legislature prescribes payment methods.

Committee members questioned Henson about whether retailers had discussed the bill with sponsors; Henson said she had not had direct conversations with Representative Ligon at the time of testimony and welcomed further dialogue.

Representative Brewer said small businesses already face many burdens and moved to continue the bill. The subcommittee voted unanimously to continue House Bill 3971; the vote was recorded as unanimous on the record but exact yes/no counts were not specified.

The bill remains under subcommittee consideration pending further stakeholder conversations and any potential drafting changes.","House Bill 3971, which would require retailers to accept cash for transactions up to $2,000, was continued after testimony from the South Carolina Retail Association highlighted potential operational and security concerns for businesses.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6100892,"Subcommittee advances amended bill expanding compensation presumption for firefighters",900,50000,950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2811409-8081ceb3c2e2814fd001749d94ae03eb&start=50&end=950","/articles/6100892/South-Carolina/Subcommittee-advances-amended-bill-expanding-compensation-presumption-for-firefighters","The Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee advanced House Bill 3163 on Thursday, voting unanimously to adopt an amendment and send the amended bill to the full committee.

The bill amends section 42-11-30 of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act to add stroke to the list of occupational diseases presumed compensable for firefighters and to broaden when the presumption may apply beyond active firefighting.

The committee-approved amendment removed newly proposed “on duty” language and restored the presumption’s focus on firefighting activities while adding two specific additional circumstances that may qualify a cardiac or respiratory event: a firefighter engaging in a technical rescue incident, and a firefighter participating in a training exercise that involves stressful or strenuous physical activity within 24 hours of the event. The amendment also specifies the presumption does not apply to clerical, administrative or sedentary activities.

Erica Wright, representing the Municipal Association of South Carolina, told the subcommittee the association and the Municipal Insurance Trust engaged in the bill’s drafting and supported the amendment. \"We support this legislation and really want to thank you for the ability to collaborate,\" Wright said.

John Baker, director of government relations for the Professional Firefighters Association of South Carolina and an on-duty firefighter, described a member who suffered a heart attack and whose workers’ compensation claim was denied under current law. \"No firefighter should have to rely on the generosity of their brothers and sisters to survive after suffering a cardiac event caused by the demands of the job,\" Baker said, citing firefighter health risks and a NIOSH finding he summarized as showing a high share of line-of-duty deaths are cardiac events.

A representative of the South Carolina Association of Counties noted the association worked on the amendment and supported advancing the bill. Lane Kelly, identified as the association’s workers’ compensation benefits manager, was present and discussed technical drafting with committee counsel.

The subcommittee first voted to adopt the amendment (recorded as unanimous; exact yes/no counts not specified) and then voted to pass the amended bill to the full committee (recorded as unanimous; exact yes/no counts not specified). The motion and second for both votes were announced on the record but individual movers and seconders were not specified in the transcript.

Background and context: the bill touches on the statutory presumption in section 42-11-30 of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. Supporters said the change would reduce the financial burden on firefighters and their families after life-threatening cardiac or stroke events related to firefighting, and could help recruitment and retention. The amendment narrows the broader \"on duty\" language that had raised concerns among municipal insurers and counties by tying the presumption to firefighting activities and specific high-stress situations.

The subcommittee chair said the bill will proceed to the full committee for further consideration.","The Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee voted unanimously to adopt an amendment and advance House Bill 3163, which expands the workers’ compensation presumption for firefighters to include certain technical rescues and training events while excluding clerical or sedentary duties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee pauses restroom-access bill after retailers and building-code concerns raised

Subcommittee continues cash-payment bill after retailers raise operational concerns

Subcommittee advances amended bill expanding compensation presumption for firefighters