Week Ending March 12, 2015
Legislative Action This Week…
Budget > After a long week of contentious debate, the House of Representatives passed a budget late Thursday evening. Coming out of Committee a bond bill was attached to the budget, but after much deliberation inside the House chamber and pressure from outside, the bond bill was ultimately scrapped. To make room for some of the bond bill projects, cuts were made to the general fund which included our Natural Resource and Regulatory agencies. Due to the bills late passage, SCFB is still examining the impact to the affected agencies. After a perfunctory vote next Tuesday, the budget will then head to the Senate, where it will be referred to the Senate Finance Committee for discussion.
Sales Tax Exemptions (Priority) >SCFB staff met with Sen. Cleary (Georgetown) this week concerning his bill S.523, the"SOUTH CAROLINA COLLECTIVE ROAD ACT" and its elimination of somesales tax exemptions on agricultural products. As session continues, it is imperative that Farm Bureau members contact their Legislators and urge opposition to funding our state’s infrastructure by way of eliminating agricultural sales tax exemptions.
Repair and Maintenance of Rural Roads and Bridges (Priority) > Discussion to address our deteriorating roads and bridges is fluid. The Senate Finance Transportation Funding subcommittee met Tuesday to discuss transportation funding. Senator Cleary began the discussion saying he introduced a road plan (S.523) last week that was “dead on arrival.” He said the Governor was insisting on her roads plan. Sen. Cleary asked about gas indexing and the subcommittee agreed to that but they would not go above surrounding states. The members also talked about eliminating the automobile sales tax cap. The meeting ended due to an unexpected firm alarm. The rescheduled meeting was cancelled. Also, throughout the House budget process several amendments were introduced on the floor to address roads and bridges but the amendments failed.
Agricultural Water Use (Priority) > The push by environmental groups to amend the Surface Water Permitting Act of 2010 and place agriculture as a permitted user is continuous.
We urge all Farm Bureau members to contact your elected officials and voice opposition. We stand firmly against any amendments to the current Surface Water Permitting Act at this time.
To view our latest update, please visit Save SC Farmers: http://www.savescfarmers.com/
Deer Quota Program – Tuesday, S.454 received second reading in the Senate but a question stopped the bill during third reading. Senate discussion on this bill will continue.
Introductions of Interest
DHEC> Senator Harvey Peeler (Gaffney) introduced S.550. In summary, the bill takes public health from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and places it with the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services in an umbrella agency called the Department of Behavioral and Public Health. The environmental portion of the department would be moved into the Department of Agriculture. The bill was referred to the Senate Medical Affairs committee.
Bills of Interest
S.11: Notice of meetings for public bodies
Sponsors, Sen. L. Martin, Malloy, Peeler, Courson, Campsen, Johnson, Hembree, Setzler, Coleman, Alexander, Scott and Sheheen
NOTICE OF MEETINGS FOR PUBLIC BODIES, TO REQUIRE THAT A PUBLIC BODY MUST PROVIDE AN AGENDA FOR ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS AND THAT ITEMS SHALL NOT BE ADDED TO THAT AGENDA LATER THAN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING, EXCEPT BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE BODY. House Judiciary Committee
H 3192: Notice of meetings for public bodies
Sponsors, Reps.Newton,Cole,Anderson,Bales,G.A. Brown,etc.
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, SO AS TO REQUIRE AN AGENDA FOR THE MEETINGS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH ITEMS MAY BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA. Senate Judiciary Committee
H. 3203: Utility Trailer
Sponsors, Rep. Bernstein
TO DEFINE THE TERM "UTILITY TRAILER" AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT MUST BE USED TO ATTACH A TOWING VEHICLE TO A UTILITY TRAILER. House Committee on Education and Public Works
H. 3430: Tires
Sponsors, Reps. Simrill, G.M. Smith, Felder, Pope, Weeks, Taylor, Hixon, Corley, Norrell, Ridgeway, Henderson, G.A. Brown, Long, Lucas, Brannon, Pitts, Atwater, Gagnon and Gambrell
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO SELL OR INSTALL AN UNMOUNTED, UNSAFE USED TIRE ONTO A PASSENGER CAR OR LIGHT TRUCK, TO DEFINE "UNSAFE", TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS, TO PROVIDE A CIVIL FINE FOR EACH VIOLATION House Judiciary Committee
National
Budget/Farm Bill: The House and Senate Budget Committees are expected to release their draft budget resolutions next week. There has been speculation that the draft resolutions will include language directing the Agricultural Committees to reduce farm bill spending. It is yet to be determined whether the spending cuts, if any, will come from the SNAP program, the crop insurance program or both.
We encourage all Farm Bureau members to contact the offices of Senator Lindsey Graham, Congressman Tom Rice, and Congressman Mark Sanford, who each sit on the budget committees that have jurisdiction over the budget resolutions. Members should urge them to protect the farm bill safety net from spending cuts.
Base & Yield Updates: Late last month, USDA announced a one-time extension for producers to enroll in the safety-net programs – Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) – included in the 2014 Farm Bill. The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres has been extended toMarch 31. The final day for farm owners and producers to choose ARC or PLC coverage also isMarch 31.Please contact your FSA office if you haven’t done so already.
Important Dates:
Women's Day at the State House: March 17
National Ag Day: March 18
Palmetto Palate: July 23