S.C. Legislative Report with Rep. Burns (Week 4): Helping farmers, education debate continues, vaping

By S.C. Dist. 17 Rep. Mike Burns:

Helping Farmers (H.4209)

Hurricane season has greatly impacted South Carolina farmers in recent years, so we are taking the necessary steps to protects the state’s farmers and their crops. This week, I supported a farm aid bill that creates the FRAMEWORK to protect farmers in case of catastrophic events. A farmer is eligible for the farm aid grant when funds are appropriated if they have experienced a 40% loss of agricultural goods as a result of a catastrophic weather event and governor-declared state of emergency. The grant will be determined by the Department of Agriculture.This is a framework with no funding attached, which would require separate legislation but would shorten the grant timetable so farmers could make the next planting season since their crop insurance only pays 70 percent of the actual seed and fertilizer losses. Not labor losses.

The Education Debate in the Senate Continues…

This week, the Senate continued their debate on the Senate Education Reform Bill, S. 419, marking one month since they started debate. They are expected to finish their debate by the end of next week, and will send it sent back to the House for our consideration or compromise.

Other Legislative News:

Banning Vaping in Public Schools (H. 4710): The House Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee moved forward a bill that adds Vaping to Tobacco Free Public Schools. This bill closes any loopholes that previously did not include Vaping on Tobacco-free campuses.

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Did you know? The State House has an interactive app that helps keep you up to date on everything happening in the General Assembly and allows you to live stream committee hearings and session. Download the app today by following this link: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/mobileappinfo.php

Thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don't hesitate to contact me.

– Rep. Mike Burns

Cover image: Via Wikipedia here. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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