Legislative Update, March 29th - April 2nd

The House was on furlough last week; therefore the CCL Legislative Team focused on Senate issues at the State House. We are happy to report another major victory for the Conservation Community with the signing of important Energy Efficiency legislation:

S.1096 Utility Energy Efficiency Financing
S. 1096, introduced by Sen. Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), was signed into law by Governor Mark Sanford on Wednesday, March 31st. The bill provides a mechanism for low interest loans to retrofit some of our most energy inefficient homes and manufactured housing thereby reducing heating and cooling bills. We would like to thank the members of both houses as well as industry for supporting this legislation. CCL supported this effort because it will save money, save energy, and create local jobs.
Staff contact: Dennis Glaves

S.1054 Mega Mall Tax Incentives
A very contentious debate over the last three weeks has been resolved in the Senate. S.1054, introduced by Sen. Clementa Pickney (D-Jasper), has passed with an amendment that rewrites tax incentives. The bill would have provided tax breaks/hard cash to Sembler Corp. to build a mega mall in Beaufort/Jasper Counties from general revenue funds.

Proponents, fearing a defeat, agreed to an amended version with scaled back incentives that does not use general fund monies but allows for increased sales taxes to be collected at the mall. Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) was very impressive in arguing against the bill in its original form and many other Senators from around the state came to his aid during debate. An amendment offered by Sen. Leatherman (R-Florence), Chairman of the Finance Committee, has restructured the bill. The bill now goes to the House.

In its current form Hardeeville City Council will be allowed to add 1 additional cent sales tax on merchandise sold at the mall. They can add a second penny if the residents vote for it in a referendum. Funds can only be used for infrastructure improvements: roads, storm water runoff, etc. No monies can be used for building the mall facilities and none of the money counts towards the investment commitments Sembler must make to be paid for these infrastructure improvements.

While we are concerned with environmental impacts associated with this project, that fight will be fought through regulatory agencies, assuming the project continues to move forward. The fight in the Statehouse seems to be focused almost completely on fiscal policy.
Staff contact: Dennis Glaves