2024 South Carolina General Assembly session may be remembered for what didn’t happen

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The 2024 regular session of the South Carolina General Assembly ends Thursday and will perhaps be better remembered for the things that didn’t pass.

South Carolina remains one of just two states along with Wyoming to not have a hate crimes bill. A proposal allowing medical marijuana again made it through the Senate only to die across the Statehouse lobby in the House. Liquor stores won’t be open on Sunday any time soon and a bill to widely expand private school vouchers was pushed hard by House leaders but got nowhere in the Senate.

There were some new laws passed big and small. Anyone who can legally own a weapon can now openly carry a gun. Bills banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, removing the sales tax on feminine hygiene products and revising the state’ law about compensating college athletes are awaiting the governor’s signature.

And bills that would change the committee that screens judges, consolidate several separate health agencies and change the state’s energy policy are headed to conference committees of three senators and three House members to see if differences between the chambers can be worked out.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Haley will meet with donors to her shuttered presidential campaign. No Trump endorsement is expected </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Rules fights and insults slow down South Carolina House on next-to-last day </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline