Legislative Update

Since our last legislative posting, most of our time has been spent in House and Senate Committees.

S.452 Surface Water Withdrawal Permitting- passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Senator Campsen still has major concerns over some of the language in the bill and how DNR and DHEC would coordinate their efforts in regards to implementation. It appears that if certain changes are not made to satisfy him that members of the environmental community will work to stop the bill from passing. Agricultural exemptions remain in the current language.

S.1034 TRAC Commission-has passed the Senate and is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill as passed out of the Senate would extend the Commission report due date from March 15, 2010 to November 15, 2010.

H.4482 was introduced last week and contained similar language as S.1034 however, it would allow the TRAC commission to consider all non-homestead property tax exemptions in its review. This would broaden the property tax base and allow overall property tax rates to be lowered.

We continue to monitor all legislative introductions and bills currently before the respective bodies. We are committed to keeping our poultry industry viable.

The House is in furlough this week and will return February 16Th. The Senate will meet this week in normal session.