July 10, 2015

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​From the Dome to Your Home: July 10, 2015

The House of Representatives and Senate were in special session beginning on Monday to handle Governor Haley’s budget vetoes and S897 that moves the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. Senators finished both the vetoes and adopted the bill and adjourned for the year on Tuesday. The House finished vetoes and worked into the night on Wednesday and early Thursday morning on the Confederate flag bill. Both the House and Senate adopted S897 without any amendments.
 

Budget vetoes

The House and Senate met this week to handle Governor Haley’s budget vetoes. Governor Haley issued 83 vetoes in the budget bill, along with one veto in the supplemental appropriations bill and three vetoes in the Capital Reserve Fund bill.  There were no vetoes in the budget that affected the Local Government Fund. For more information on the budget and provisos, contact Melissa Carter (mcarter@masc.sc).
 

Confederate Flag

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate adopted S897, the bill that moves the Confederate flag from the State House grounds and places it in the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum. Neither body adopted any amendments to the bill. Governor Haley signed the bill on Thursday afternoon and the flag was removed today at 10 a.m. The Municipal Association board of directors and the Association of SC Mayors board of directors both endorsed removing the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. For more information on this issue, contact Reba Campbell (rcampbell@masc.sc) at 803.933.1245.
 

News from Capitol Hill

The Remote Transactions Parity Act is gaining traction in Congress. This bill will close the online sales tax loophole, and allow state and local governments to receive the tax revenue it is owed from remote online sales. This bill, which already has support from a bipartisan group of representatives and many businesses and business groups, would level the playing field between online and brick-and-mortar stores by closing the online sales tax loophole. Members of the South Carolina delegation need to hear from local officials who are requesting them to cosponsor the bill. Click here to get information from the National League of Cities about contacting delegation members. For more information, contact Reba Campbell (rcampbell@masc.sc) at 803.933.1245.
 

Weekly bill introductions

No bills were introduced this week that have an effect on cities and towns.  Visit the legislative tracking system to see and comment on all bills pending in the House and Senate.
 

Passed bills

Bills passed in the 2015 legislative session that have an effect on cities and towns are available on the Association’s legislative tracking system.
 

Committee action this week

No committee meetings were held this week.
 
Don’t forget to follow the Municipal Association on Twitter to get up-to-the-minute updates on what’s happening every day at the State House. Follow us @MuniAssnSC.
 
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