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Senate Judiciary Subcommittee passes SC Energy Security Act and Electric Rate Stabilization Act
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee passed the SC Energy Security Act (H.3309) after hearing again from electric utilities. The bill was amended in the subcommittee with minimal changes that, on balance, do not move the needle on our issues with the bill related to permitting, public notice, and restrictions on solar. The Subcommittee then signaled it would be taking up further amendments in the full Judiciary Committee hearing this week, which tells us we need more time to get this right.
Unlike the SC Energy Security Act, which has received numerous committee hearings, the Electric Rate Stabilization Act (S.446) — which some in opposition are calling the Automatic Rate Increase Act — was considered for the first time last week and given a favorable report after hearing from utilities and concerned groups. You can read our primer on the bill here.
If you have been hesitant to contact your lawmakers about these bills before, please consider reaching out to Senators now, particularly those on the Senate Judiciary Committee who will be taking up this bill today — Tuesday, March 25 — to voice your concerns and ask for additional time to work through the issues.
Committee on Government Efficiency learns the SC Conservation Bank provides outsized benefits for the State
The House Committee on Government Efficiency and Legislative Oversight hosted a hearing last week to receive public comments on several agencies, including the SC Conservation Bank. Bryant Harrison, a farmer from Greenville who co-owns H&G produce with his wife, Margaret (a member of UF's board and Land Trust committee), spoke to the Committee about the essential work the Bank has done to protect working lands throughout the State.
With just four full time employees, this agency has helped to conserve over 400,000 acres of farmland, important habitat, and landscapes that are critical for floodwater mitigation and cultural preservation. It is one of the most cost-efficient and impactful conservation programs in the country, protecting land for about 30 cents on the dollar by skillfully leveraging private, state, and federal dollars.
The Government Efficiency & Legislative Oversight Committee conducted a 2025 Public Input Survey for agencies in SC, and the results — along with dozens of anonymous public comments — show that the Conservation Bank clearly provides immense value to the State. Here are a few of the responses collected from the public:
“Conservation easements provide an opportunity for Family Farms to continue farming while protecting their land for future generations. This not only benefits the Farmer and the next generation, but also their communities and the States #1 industry. Please continue to fund the State Conservation Bank and increase funding when possible.”
“As a crucial steward of our ecological heritage, the Conservation Bank is indispensable in protecting our environment, enhancing the quality of life for our citizens, and supporting the state's economic infrastructure…The continued success of the South Carolina Conservation Bank is vital to preserving our state's environmental and economic health for generations to come. A South Carolina without conservation is a South Carolina no one will want to live in.”
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