SCR Legislative Update: January 12-14, 2021

The first regular session of 124th South Carolina General Assembly began Tuesday, January 12, 2021. 

The House and Senate met in Columbia in statewide session this week but plan to meet virtually over the next week. 

The House will return at the call of the Speaker (tentatively Tuesday, January 26, 2021). The Senate tentatively plans to convene next Thursday, January 21, 2021. Both bodies will continue to meet virtually in committee and subcommittee to allow movement of bills to their respective calendars for consideration. 

Following an interrupted 2020 session due to COVID-19, the General Assembly is faced with many lingering issues on top of conducting the regular business of the state this year. 

While this session may look very different than previous years, SCR continues to work diligently to represent you at the State House ensuring that REALTOR® priorities are heard by our lawmakers in person (and now also virtually).

SCR’s Legislative Committee has set our 2021 agenda to address issues including updating real estate criminal background check criteria, working with the SC business community to support passage of hate crimes legislation, extending the moratorium to prohibit petroleum pipeline companies from exercising eminent domain, addressing housing discrimination through supporting the removal of discriminatory restrictions and covenants, and providing for more seamless closings and eliminating gaps in the recording process through use of electronic notarization. 

To learn more about SCR’s 2021 Legislative Priorities, please click here

In the coming weeks, stay tuned as I get back to our normally scheduled video updates on the introduction and movement of our priority legislation along with other legislation and issues of interest.

I look forward to continuing to work on your behalf! 

Sincerely,

Lindsay Jackson

Chief Advocacy Officer South Carolina REALTORS®