Columbia Legislative Update

Last week, the SC House and Senate convened for an organizational session and to welcome new legislators after the November general election. The House gained 19 new members and the Senate 13, one of the largest freshman classes in recent memory. Among this week’s happenings, House members selected chamber leadership and assigned committee chairs. House Speaker Murrell Smith secured a second term as Speaker of the House, and Senator Thomas Alexander was unanimously reselected to serve another four-year term as President of the Senate. Bills are currently being pre-filed in the House and the Senate will follow suit next week.