COLUMBIA, SC (WBTW) – South Carolina state lawmakers enter the second week of the current session at the Statehouse. Perhaps the highlight this week will be Governor Haley’s State of the State address Wednesday night.
Lawmakers moved one law-changing bill from one chamber to the other in the first week. That bill, H. 3440 , would require drivers to register their mopeds, have insurance and wear reflective vests. They also couldn’t ride a moped if they’ve lost their license to a DUI.
These stricter proposed laws come after the deadliest year on state roads in eight years. We don’t have specific moped statistics, but road deaths were up more than 15 percent in South Carolina last year from 2014.
Two of the bill’s four sponsors are local, Representatives Alan Clemmons (R-Myrtle Beach) and Wayne George (D-Mullins). There was fairly strong opposition to the bill in the House, which may suggest it won’t sail easily through the Senate. Second reading of the bill passed by a vote of 67-41.
Among those who voted nay were Representatives Carl Anderson (D-Georgetown), Pat Henegan (D-Bennettsville), Jay Jordan (R-Florence), Phillip Lowe (R-Florence), Robert Ridgeway (D-Manning), Murrell Smith (R-Sumter).
The bill is now in the Senate Transportation Committee, which includes local Senators Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence), Luke Rankin (R-Myrtle Beach), Gerald Malloy (D-Hartsville), Dr. Ray Cleary (R-Murrells Inlet), Greg Hembree (R-North Myrtle Beach), Thomas McElveen (D-Sumter), Kevin Johnson (D-Manning) and Ronnie Sabb (D-Greeleyville).
The newest member of the South Carolina House, Rep. Russell Fry (R-Surfside Beach), completed his first full week in the session. Fry is the primary sponsor of one bill so far. H 4532 concerns the boundaries of the Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District. The bill is now in the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Fry was assigned to the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committee.
