Senate committee reports a slate of board nominees, including cosmetology, massage and builders panels

The Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee favorably reported several appointments and reappointments to state boards and advisory panels on motions carried by voice vote.

The committee approved Tova Lewis for an initial appointment to the State Board of Cosmetology for a term commencing March 20, 2025, and expiring March 2029. Lewis, a licensed nail technician of 17 years and a licensed instructor for five years, told the committee she teaches infection control and sanitation and said her “duty of care is to our clients and the public.” The committee reviewed her personal data questionnaire, statement of economic interest, SLED background check, credit report and driving record and found them complete; members voted to report her appointment favorably.

The committee also approved Adam Broxton (applicant spelled in the packet as Broxton) for an initial appointment and a reappointment to the Advisory Panel for Massage and Bodywork (initial term commencing June 30, 2021, expiring June 30, 2025; reappointment term commencing June 30, 2025, expiring June 30, 2029). Broxton, who said he has practiced massage therapy for about 19 years and serves as an educator, discussed professionalism in the field and cited concerns about inappropriate conduct that regulators must address. During questioning he described the risks posed by unlicensed practitioners to clients with medical conditions and said he would be open to credential differentiation for advanced practitioners.

The committee reappointed Hal Dillard to the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission for a term from June 30, 2024, to June 30, 2028, and reappointed James Graves to the same commission for the same term dates. Dillard described a multigenerational family business focused on rental and lower‑income housing and said the commission’s role is licensing, registration and enforcement rather than direct affordability programs. Graves, who said he built roughly 2,000 houses over several decades and focused on attainable housing, emphasized how rising fees and local approval delays have increased development costs.

The committee also reported favorably on Melinda Griffin’s unexpired term on the South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board (term expires May 31, 2028); members confirmed she had been recently vetted and previously confirmed for an earlier, expired term, so the committee moved to report the unexpired term as well.

Votes: Each nomination was approved by voice vote after a motion and second. Committee staff confirmed that required disclosure forms and background checks were completed for each nominee; no disqualifying findings were reported in the screening questions.

Context: Several senators urged commissioners and appointees to identify local and regulatory barriers that raise housing costs — including impact fees and tap fees that do not scale with house size — and to bring those observations to legislators.

Less critical details: Committee staff conducted standard screening questions (ownership of government‑contracting businesses, prior arrests, liens, bankruptcy, lobbyist status) and recorded negative responses for the nominees whose screenings were discussed on the record.