State House Watch

The SC House has passed the $29.95 billion 2019-2020 state budget proposal.

Close to $9 billion of the executive budget comes from general funds - including retail, individual income and corporate income taxes.

Representatives voted 112-1 to pass the budget bill after debating for more than 15 hours last week.

Lawmakers tackled operational funding, various education-based reforms, and funding for Planned Parenthood, WLTX reported.

Representative John King (D-York) introduced an amendment to require South Carolina schools to teach a cultural sensitivity course.

The House tabled 2 amendments that would have addressed mandated class sizes in South Carolina.

The failed amendments addressed:

• Eliminating a state proviso to enable a teacher-to-student ratio for classrooms.

• Limiting class size in under-performing schools’ Kindergarten - 3rd grade classrooms.

Amendments giving state employees who make less than $50,000 a year a 2% raise was also tabled.

An amendment to prevent using state funding for Planned Parenthood abortions or abortion-related services passed.

$96 million in nonrecurring funds will be returned to taxpayers as rebates. The Rebate Fund includes the $61 million in taxes collected on the winning Mega Millions lottery ticket sold in South Carolina last year.

The total allows for a $50 one-time rebate for each South Carolina income tax payer.