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House renames military advisory body, adds North Augusta mayor and Edgefield representation
Summary
The House approved amendments to rename the South Carolina Military Task Force as the South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council, broaden its stated purpose and add local officials from North Augusta and Edgefield County; the bill received a 105-0 second-reading vote and was granted unanimous consent for third reading tomorrow.
The South Carolina House on Monday amended and advanced a bill to rename the South Carolina Military Task Force as the South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council and to revise the council’s membership and purpose.
Representative L. A. Davis, speaking as chair, said the bill updates the council’s purpose “to support mission readiness for installations and improve the quality of life for service members and their families.” The amendments added the mayor of North Augusta to the membership in place of the mayor of Aiken and, by a separate amendment, added Edgefield County representation.
Representative Hixson, who offered the second amendment, said Edgefield County should be included because many service members and their families in the region live in the broader Central Savannah River Area tied to Fort Gordon. Representative Robert Williams asked why North Augusta rather than Aiken had been added; sponsors answered that the change reflected the large veterans population and residential patterns near Fort Gordon.
The House adopted two amendments by voice vote and, on a roll call ordered by the chamber, gave the bill its second reading by a vote of 105 to 0. Chair L. A. Davis then asked unanimous consent for the bill to receive third reading tomorrow; no objection was recorded.
The measure, as amended, retains local business and county representation referenced in the original language, including the Aiken Chamber and the Aiken County Council, and corrects a scrivener's error noted during debate. No funding provisions were added during the proceedings; sponsors described the change as organizational and membership-related.
If the bill receives final passage in coming days it would change the council's statutory name and membership list; the transcript did not specify an enactment date or further implementation steps.
Votes and formal actions recorded at the session are reflected below.
