Legislative Session Weekly Update, January 21-23
Due to the Presidential Inauguration and a rare snowfall in the capital city, the General Assembly had a quiet second week of legislative session. The few committees that did meet tackled some hot topics, including the use of a debit card to buy lottery tickets and a $1.8 billion mystery accounting error.
The Week in Review (January 21 – January 23):
Senate Finance met this week to address the now-infamous $1.8 billion accounting error. An audit revealed that $1.6 billion of the funds never existed, and $200 million had been spent but mistakenly remained on the books. While financial officials knew about the error for years, lawmakers weren’t informed until late 2022. The fallout has led to a federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation, which could damage the state’s credit rating and result in fines. Treasurer Curtis Loftis faces growing calls to resign, though he denies any wrongdoing.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) presented concerning data to the House Ways and Means committee, projecting a severe shortage of 3,000 physicians in South Carolina by 2026. This shortage will have a devastating impact on critical fields such as OB/GYN, family medicine, and child psychiatry. The growing physician shortage is further exacerbated by laws that criminalize healthcare and limit physicians’ ability to make independent medical decisions, making it even harder to attract and retain medical professionals. It is crucial that we continue to fight against harmful bans to protect access to affordable and accessible healthcare for all.
Moving Forward:
While no formal action was taken on our twelve priority bills last week, we continued to engage in productive conversations with legislators and partners about advancing our agenda.
This Week (January 28 – January 30):
- The House and Senate will return to business-as-usual.
- The House Ways and Means Committee will continue to have budget hearings.
- We will continue to monitor developments, advocate for critical issues, and keep you informed as the session unfolds.
Together, we can advocate for a more equitable future for women and girls in South Carolina.