This yr’s legislative session has come to an finish and lots of high-profile payments did not make the minimize.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — On the final day of South Carolina’s 2021 legislative session, a number of high-profile payments ended up not making the minimize.
Though lawmakers are returning in June to sort out the price range, the majority of their work is finished for the yr. One of the vital notable payments that did not cross is South Carolina’s hate crime legislation.
“I discover it offensive that they’d say they don’t have the time to cease hate, however they did discover the time to validate a barbaric motion referred to as firing squads,” stated Reverend Nelson Rivers with the Nationwide Motion Community. “They did have the time to cross a invoice in file time known as the heartbeat invoice.”
Reverend Rivers spoke outdoors the State Home Thursday to share his disappointment within the Basic Meeting.
The hate crime bill handed within the Home earlier this yr however didn’t cross the Senate. It might have enhanced penalties for violent crimes which are confirmed to be based mostly on somebody’s traits like their race or faith. It was by no means debated on the Senate flooring.
“We proceed to push,” stated Rivers when requested his response to the invoice not passing this week. “They’ve the second a part of the session subsequent yr.”
Rivers hopes lawmakers will make the hate crime invoice a precedence after they return in January.
Senate Majority Chief Shane Massey known as individuals who wished to see the invoice handed “the minority.”
Massey stated “I believe there are a variety of people that have issues about it. It simply got here out of committee final week.”
The GOP chief continued to say many lawmakers nonetheless have questions concerning the hate crime laws that haven’t been answered, in order that they weren’t able to debate it. He did not specify what the issues had been.
Many different well-known payments didn’t make the minimize in time both; together with the the Home invoice that would enable beer and wine to be delivered to customers’ doors.
The medical marijuana bill additionally did not get an opportunity to change into legislation.
“Fairly frankly, I believed this was the yr of medical marijuana, which I believe has nice public help,” stated Senate Minority Chief Brad Hutto. “That will likely be on the high of the agenda after we come again. So, after we come again in January if we may get on marijuana, if we may get on hate crimes, within the fall if we will handle these rural faculty wants, these broadband wants, finally this might need been a profitable yr.”
The medical marijuana bill has help in each events, however is predicted to face an up-hill battle.
Lawmakers will return in June for the state budget, however they’ll solely be allowed to think about payments which have handed each the Home and Senate and are in convention committee.
