[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6254267,"mediaKeyId","3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7","parentId",3174605,"title","Joint assembly elects three to South Carolina Public Service Commission","audioSeconds",462,"startMs",2804000,"endMs",3266000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7&start=2804&end=3266","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7/thumbnail_2804000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6254267/South-Carolina/Joint-assembly-elects-three-to-South-Carolina-Public-Service-Commission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254267-ff17daf23d38d904ea8fe58029d10956/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104747&Signature=mrc5UjazLMUU3Q06kX0UIS0nZuJi0haG~Jx1Jf78MTpwqhrTC1-NmVC9Qn1K6NiOthV2K~kxzU1QraI5pAMIg7gvcrb3BqX37I0NODpENmc0~awKKnRksuhrUTvNKFEprgdKF-79pyl2q8yiVtCRdlIDWORjNq8kzQSfHccLD9-mRMXlQox0z3IPMLW8hhu0i1~fOU3JmYMQdi2zw5IlnUi9em29K5IK3ESxkcPRUq1LwCnQvZWCwfMRZ4HL5SL0qYf-mx2tq9Cs8hhze5M-QlvzCUdGPq9W0W4RzF0LF9EA833gRzlhJIn0JR8nWLB8~sgr8XW-q0rQ8G4BJa~qgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","The General Assembly, meeting in a joint assembly, elected three members to the South Carolina Public Service Commission on nominations from the state's Public Utilities Review Committee.

Representative Herb Kurzman, vice chair of the Public Utilities Review Committee, explained the review committee process and presented qualified nominees for seats whose terms had expired. On seat 2 the review committee nominated Florence P. Belser; members elected Belser by acclamation after noting another nominee had withdrawn. The committee nominated H. David Britt for seat 4 and the assembly elected him by acclamation. For seat 6 the committee nominated Justin T. Williams; the joint assembly likewise elected Williams following the committee's report.

Kurzman told the joint assembly the review committee screened applicants, held public hearings and confirmed qualified candidates under S.C. law authorizing the committee to nominate candidates for the commission. The General Assembly's election concludes the committee's selection process and fills three commission vacancies.

Those elected will serve the terms prescribed by law; the joint assembly adjourned after the elections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House of Representatives -- House of Representatives Thursday, May 1, 2025 10:00 am ","oneSentenceSummary","In a joint assembly the General Assembly elected Florence P. Belser, H. David Britt and Justin T. Williams to seats on the South Carolina Public Service Commission following nominations by the Public Utilities Review Committee and vote by the legislature.","taxTitle","2025 Legislative Meetings, South Carolina","taxId",78666,"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},6254272,"House advances bill to let DNR remove derelict vessels, citing coastal hazards",113,4944000,5057000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7&start=4944&end=5057","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7/thumbnail_4944000.jpg","/articles/6254272/South-Carolina/House-advances-bill-to-let-DNR-remove-derelict-vessels-citing-coastal-hazards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254272-4ca75ba6098bd531bbbf52c4cb9b2b90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104747&Signature=ZJlsXjhQhfJQysnMUnRC5pYSlhjKRBXySCNE0SXaQ7a2KGwDHqCC~-mNX3bobdV6EAcY7GzFA90YDwXwWu8C8SU--BjrOHa4gA5h0GaSMyOuDlumRz9hPpjb8pirbcSAYxHj7dB0DrqHmzsWhnYYEmumjOH3QWxqbgvqXv-1tyCSd4Wp3BLghtmdss1IDgrYSM8zAojN~QEHP~JSO-WP3dQFMednSGCxIWlJRzTa0RH5GM6MPLZZbE09B~0dfhTAv-mVWEayZ3-~j9kGvyzj1Rqs0MdYQRK9y6UajrsRIFtr9mmoxZNy7x91G2LPcbIBb8c6LoS~qQQ~U8Z8UYfZjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House gave S.B. 367 a second reading after Representative Forrest told members the bill would address a growing problem of abandoned and derelict vessels in South Carolina waterways, particularly along the coast.

\"We have a serious problem with the population of abandoned and derelict vessels on our South Carolina waterways,\" Forrest said on the floor. He described those vessels as hazards that \"clog our waterways\" and said the bill would provide clearer authority for the Department of Natural Resources to identify, remove and hold owners accountable for junk or abandoned vessels.

Representatives representing coastal districts supported the measure. Members recorded a roll-call second-reading vote of 105-0. Forrest asked unanimous consent for third reading consideration at a later legislative day; the House granted that consent.

The bill's sponsors and supporters said the measure clarifies legal tools for cleanup and enforcement while focusing on public-safety and environmental concerns tied to derelict craft.","S.B. 367, a bill to strengthen authority to identify and remove abandoned and derelict vessels, received a second reading in the House and passed on a recorded vote of 105-0. Sponsors said the measure will let the Department of Natural Resources hold owners responsible and clear navigational hazards on coastal waterways.",{"_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},6254277,"House advances bill restricting labeling of lab-cultivated meat; second reading passes unanimously",213,4692000,4905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7&start=4692&end=4905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7/thumbnail_4692000.jpg","/articles/6254277/South-Carolina/House-advances-bill-restricting-labeling-of-lab-cultivated-meat-second-reading-passes-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254277-52eb76dc9c235c015d670dcb3c727144/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104747&Signature=L4g4m9ULPW50EXUEK4fmIqBIv7Qnb5yczPtM4H0fhvhxejm--RgxwmQXuFflGP9glWeK20ozCl7icMYhgxcIKZtcpfU9IkkuMh14e3Us2HrNKWwMQZX9SfgOKNSqpy7B9bVkdHRatZgpBVpMtNbrOEgrogDTiKRWDJfZV7dyY4HaCzTQRzfowvOXf0Pcju9fCDRNuWj7smKEXg~pvw5J9hxi0cu~QYgIWePF4jbX5y7NrhR-0Mbwk5DIfdeHULECJW04ehklzlopxmiYn~1-r4Z5J2U~KUk53P~g3Mj-yPEjmabVYT7BYuErGxd2BAND39inog5ByLe0gBj~m-mK6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Carolina House gave S.B. 103 a second reading by a 109-0 vote after Representative Patrick Hadden described the bill as a consumer-protection and industry-protection measure that would prohibit labeling and advertising of artificial or cell-cultivated food products as conventional animal proteins.

\"This bill bans advertising, selling, marketing, and offering artificial or cell cultivated food products as beef, poultry, fish, crustacean, or any other animal protein,\" Hadden said while explaining the measure on the floor. The bill would add a definition for artificial or cell-cultivated food products and make it unlawful to falsely market such products as traditional meat.

Representative Magnuson asked whether it is currently illegal to sell lab-produced meat in the state; Hadden replied that current law allows such products to be sold but that this bill would impose labeling and marketing restrictions. The exchange focused on the scope of existing law and whether the new statute would create additional restrictions on marketing rather than a sales ban.

After the unanimous second-reading vote the bill was set on the calendar for a third reading, with supporters saying the measure protects South Carolina producers and consumers by preventing potentially confusing labeling.

Vote: Second reading passed 109-0; sponsors requested and received unanimous consent to advance to third reading on a subsequent legislative day.","The House gave S.B. 103 a second reading on a 109-0 vote after Representative Hadden explained a bill that would ban marketing lab-cultivated protein as 'meat' or similar animal protein names and require distinct labeling.",{"_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},6254281,"House concurs with Senate on Education Scholarship Trust Fund after heated debate",11534,2893000,14427000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7&start=2893&end=14427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3174605-f4e779d0ddb8c4bae6c12be0719701d7/thumbnail_2893000.jpg","/articles/6254281/South-Carolina/House-concurs-with-Senate-on-Education-Scholarship-Trust-Fund-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6254281-1d194c96961199eb292fe3c679e82adf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104747&Signature=XaqYdpm11c74qE0sgZBdtmQnZ7SxEVqiDmBYfWSd--iir6zs~Nds4GEQE28wo6CujArn~L1mYmuBwh-cxfBQNQ2LgWbU9EUEV40yHASwxXRePCADC~m-MqBJRfqn5m4b1f4G4XgK8A5APhfCBu2lkGA0m~C1FaC0a5XcDGZmcsIx2fEcsq6QYMSSVo87EB7tpcMICkVoGYXD6wyfwFUCr57RgQfXWlxEVts1wRijwJqEivgaSb5VEmVV6F~4gR~O5PMU6fgz6TcW-VfnPoAp6pje89JO5EgqwLPelnlh-ghYEiZvgW6gMicB7vUDRGAzGTPl8oUEV5XQxYY8x2XrmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Carolina House of Representatives voted 73-32 to concur with Senate amendments to S.B. 62, a bill creating an Education Scholarship Trust Fund that would deliver publicly funded scholarships for children to attend nonpublic schools or other approved education providers.

Supporters said the changes the Senate added clarify eligibility windows, add audit and trust protections for scholarship funds and set enrollment caps for the program as it starts. Opponents warned the program could divert public dollars from public schools and raise constitutional and fiscal risks.

The Senate amendments require the department to contract with a trustee to manage scholarship accounts, create application windows that prioritize current recipients and siblings then families under an income threshold, and cap initial participation at 10,000 students for the first year and at least 15,000 in later years unless the General Assembly directs otherwise. The amendments also require random audits of education service providers and the trust, and retain language that applicants must acknowledge private providers are not required to provide the same services as public schools.

\"Providing parents with more options for educating their children is in the best interest of our students, parents, and the state of South Carolina,\" said Representative Lee Erickson, who explained the senate amendments on the floor. Erickson said the trust structure and audit requirements were designed to adhere to the state Supreme Court's guidance and to let the General Assembly choose the funding source in the budget process.

Rep. Jermaine Garvin, speaking in opposition, said the measure conflicts with the state constitution and warned it would erode funding for public higher-education scholarships and local school systems. \"No public dollars shall go to private schools,\" Garvin said, urging colleagues to consider the long-term fiscal and equity consequences before expanding the program.

Representatives who questioned the bill pressed on funding and program mechanics. Representative Cobb Hunter asked how the bill would interact with existing scholarship and lottery-funded programs; Erickson replied that the amendments leave funding decisions to Ways and Means and Senate Finance and add a trustee \"lockbox\" intended to ensure funds benefit eligible children. The House also debated access, auditing and whether private providers should be held to comparable standards with public schools.

The House recorded a roll-call concurrence vote of 73-32. With concurrence, S.B. 62 returns to the Senate; the bill still faces decisions about funding levels and administration by the General Assembly and possible judicial review.

Background: the trust mechanism and several design choices in the bill were framed by sponsors as a response to the South Carolina Supreme Court's earlier guidance about how scholarship programs must be structured. The measure retains several guardrails the House and Senate negotiators said are meant to limit misuse, including audit provisions and vendor approval requirements.","The South Carolina House voted 73-32 to concur with Senate amendments to S.B. 62, the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, after hours of debate over funding, eligibility and oversight. The measure sets up a trustee-run scholarship mechanism, with initial caps and audit requirements, and leaves funding source decisions to the General Assembly.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Joint assembly elects three to South Carolina Public Service Commission

House advances bill to let DNR remove derelict vessels, citing coastal hazards

House advances bill restricting labeling of lab-cultivated meat; second reading passes unanimously

House concurs with Senate on Education Scholarship Trust Fund after heated debate