City Quick Connect Podcast From The Municipal Association Of South Carolina

Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright join the podcast to talk about the current state of the military tax increment financing bill, the 911 T-CPR bill, liquor liability legislation, the bill to increase the tort claims cap and the state budget. They also explain the Municipal Association’s new resource for local hate crimes ordinances.

Casey Fields and Joannie Nickel look at several pieces of legislation as the crossover deadline, which is the deadline for bills to pass out of their originating body, approaches on April 10. They cover the military tax increment financing bill, the property tax exemption bill, the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act tax credit bill, the 911 T-CPR bill, energy reform bill and Nickel’s work on an eminent domain bill.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton review the House version of the state budget, including new and returning budget provisos. They also discuss the recently passed permitless carry bill and its follow-up legislation as well as testimony on the bill that would require signage for those with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits to discharge effluent into state waters.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton take a look at the passage of the permitless firearm carrying legislation, the discussion on the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, proposals on reducing the costs of liquor liability insurance, and the upcoming debate on the state budget.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the House of Representatives version of the bill creating the Executive Office of Health and Policy, and the conference committee on the bill to allow permitless carrying of firearms. They also talk about the bill to extend the SC Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act tax credit, and the ongoing efforts to reduce liquor liability insurance costs.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton take a look at the House Ways and Means Committee’s version of the state budget. They also talk about the proposed extension of the SC Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act tax credits until 2035, as well as the bill that would change the property tax exemption for nonprofit housing corporations, the bill that would allow first responders to file worker’s compensation claims for post-traumatic stress disorder, and SC Senate rules on bill objections.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the bills to create the Executive Office of Health and Policy, the permitless carry bill going to conference committee and the bill to allow referendums for Sunday liquor retails sales. They also cover the medical cannabis bill, liquor liability bills and the bill to allow affordable housing development projects in military tax increment financing districts.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the medical cannabis bill going on special order, and also talk about the bill to allow the permitless carrying of a gun and the bill to allow referendums for Sunday liquor sales. They review Hometown Legislative Action Day, including the session on using accommodations tax funds for workforce housing.

Laura Dawson Ullrich, senior regional economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte Branch, discusses the current state of the economy and its outlook for the future.

Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib offers the report of the Municipal Association’s legislative committee, and the Association’s advocacy team talks through numerous key issues currently debated at the State House. Hear from Scott Slatton, director of advocacy and communications, as well as legislative and public policy advocates Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright.

Conway Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy, president of the Municipal Association of SC, talks about inclusion at the local level and the need to consider all kinds of residents when making decisions, as well as the importance of a statewide hate crimes bill.

Todd Glover, executive director of the Municipal Association of SC, highlights the importance of municipalities to the South Carolina economy, the need to regulate short-term rentals at the local level, the value of annexation, and the need for civility in local government.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton cover the debate over H3594, the permitless carry bill, as well as its amendments. They discuss testimony on the liquor liability issue, which explored possible rate regulation and insurance claims costs; and give an update on the Local Business License Renewal Center, which began accepting 2024 renewals on February 1.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss H4231, the bill that would allow municipal referendums for Sunday retail liquor sales; H4589, the bill that would drop the requirements for incumbents to hold over in office after contested elections. H3734, the bill that would limit municipal elections to odd-numbered years only, received an amendment that would eliminate all municipal election commissions for cities and towns with populations below 100,000.

The Municipal Association’s Hometown Legislative Action Day is coming up on February 6. Association Executive Director Todd Glover talks about the importance of city leaders connecting with their delegation at the State House, and Association General Counsel Eric Shytle describes the session on Act 57 and workforce housing. The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government will take place the next day on February 7. Staff Associate for Training and Learning Solutions Urica Floyd describes the course offerings. More information: https://www.masc.sc/2024-hometown-legislative-action-day

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk about testimony from different groups on liquor liability insurance costs, as well as the importance of communication between municipalities and county governments on land development issues.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk with the Association’s two legislative and public policy advocates, Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright, about the beginning of the second part of the 2023 – 24 legislative session. They discuss zero millage, funding through the Local Government Fund, short-term rental regulation, possible revisions to the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act, and legislative rule changes.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk about the Municipal Association’s 2024 Advocacy Initiatives, including the new initiative of supporting more state funding and other resources for mental health services. They also talk about legislative issues that may arise in 2024, such as potentially extending the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act, possible impact fee changes, liquor liability reform and others.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton introduce Mary Catherine Lawton, the Municipal Association’s new research and legislative analyst. They discuss the role of research in the Association’s advocacy efforts and the resources it provides to cities and towns.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss some of the factors that will affect the 2024 session of the General Assembly. Redistricting and the 2024 elections will have an impact, as well as debate on issues ranging from judicial reform to guns and abortion.