The South Carolina House of Representatives reviewed and advanced several significant bills during the week of April 28, according to a May 1 summary prepared by staff. The legislative actions covered topics ranging from impaired driving laws to transportation modernization and regulations on substances like kratom.
Among the notable measures, the Senate did not agree with recent House amendments to H. 3924 concerning hemp beverages, resulting in the formation of a conference committee to resolve differences between the chambers. The House also made major changes to S. 52, which updates South Carolina’s impaired driving laws. The bill introduces stricter penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) and driving with unlawful alcohol concentrations (DUAC), including license suspensions and mandatory attendance at Victim Impact Panels for convicted drivers.
S. 52 also proposes new offenses such as felony DUI in both second and third degrees, enhanced child endangerment provisions, and requires offenders who cause death or permanent disability to pay child support as restitution while serving probation or community service. Other features include revised blood sampling procedures by certified professionals, adjustments to administrative hearings for license suspensions, modifications to videotaping requirements during arrests, and a prohibition against classifying felony DUI resulting in death as a nonviolent offense.
Additional legislation passed by the House includes H. 4641 banning kratom sales to minors and classifying certain synthetic kratom products as Schedule I controlled substances; S. 831 restructuring the Department of Transportation for greater accountability; S. 715 streamlining oversight of charitable solicitations; S. 718 establishing protocols for ejecting unlawful occupants from recreational vehicle parks or residential dwellings; H. 4382 revising rules on nonprescription ephedrine product sales; H. 5216 updating building code energy conservation standards; S.150 amending age requirements for rental kart operators; H.3371 providing admissions tax exemptions for local chambers of commerce; H.5488 clarifying textile communities revitalization incentives; H.5122 granting sales tax exemptions capped at $10 million annually for internet access service providers; H.4270 mandating removal of eviction records older than five years from public view effective January 1, 2027 if signed into law;
and H.5504 restricting foreign influence in higher education institutions through disclosure requirements and prohibitions on certain gifts.
These legislative developments reflect ongoing efforts by state lawmakers to address public safety concerns, modernize infrastructure management,
and update regulatory frameworks across various sectors.
