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South Carolina House advances multiple bills including Space Force recognition, updates probate notices and overrides governor veto
Summary
The House gave second reading to several uncontested bills — including adding the U.S. Space Force to state law and modernizing probate publication rules — and voted unanimously to override Gov. McMaster’s veto of a local building-code exemption.
The South Carolina House met Tuesday for its legislative session, advancing a slate of uncontested bills and overriding a gubernatorial veto.
Representative Gillum told colleagues that House Bill 45-86 “just adds United States, Space Force, to the definition of members of the armed forces” and to the statutory definition of military service, to ensure service in the newest branch is explicitly recognized under state law. The House gave HB 45-86 second reading by roll call, recorded in the transcript as 111 to 0.
Lawmakers also moved forward with measures affecting coroners and probate practice. Representative Mark Smith said House Bill 41-88 would allow a coroner to release the remains of a deceased person to another family member when the legal next of kin is charged with the death; the chamber gave the bill second reading by roll call (106 to 0).
A bill governing automatic-renewal notices for fitness facilities drew questions about existing requirements and choices for electronic notice. Representative Bustos said House Bill 46-35 authorizes physical-fitness businesses to notify customers of automatic renewal either electronically or in writing — “or,” not “and,” as she explained — and clarified that the change preserves the option of paper notices. The House recorded the second-reading vote as 108 to 0.
Representative Bernstein explained a comprehensive committee amendment to House Bill 45-11, which she described as “intended to modernize service by publication and real estate action, and notice to creditors and probate proceedings.” The amendment clarifies that courts may authorize publication when a party’s address cannot be ascertained and accommodates print-plus-online publication for creditor notices; Bernstein noted stakeholder support from the South Carolina Press Association, probate judges and the South Carolina Bar. Members raised cost concerns (one example cited: $55 in Richland County for a notice), and the committee amendment was adopted; HB 45-11 passed second reading by roll call (114 to 0).
Later in the session the House read a veto message from Gov. Henry McMaster on Senate Bill 623, local legislation concerning building-code exemptions. Representative Hewitt said S.623 provides certain residential exemptions from a higher code classification for specified structures. The House voted to override the governor’s veto by roll call, recorded as 105 to 0 in the transcript, thereby enacting the measure over the veto.
Procedure and next steps: the bills that received second reading were advanced on the calendar consistent with the clerk’s orders; the transcript records roll-call tallies and indicates the House will reconvene tomorrow at 10 a.m. No final enactment dates or implementation timelines for these bills were discussed on the floor during this session.
