Strengthening Public Safety, Energy Security & Online Protections
The fight to protect South Carolina families, businesses, and values is in full swing at the State House. This week, we took major steps to crack down on organized crime, secure our energy future, and protect kids online—proving once again that we are committed to delivering real results. These efforts reflect the House Republican Caucus continued work to advance the Six Pillars for Progress, the conservative agenda we outlined at the start of this session to cut taxes, grow our economy, protect families, and strengthen public safety.
Cracking Down on Organized Retail Crime
H.3523, a bill aimed at cracking down on organized retail crime. Across the country, we’ve seen smash-and-grab thefts grow more brazen, with criminal rings coordinating large-scale retail thefts that drive up prices and threaten jobs. The days of slaps on the wrist for repeat offenders are over—this legislation ensures that those who steal thousands in merchandise face felony charges, increased penalties, and real consequences. It also allows law enforcement to prosecute thefts across multiple counties as a single crime, helping to shut down organized crime networks that have long taken advantage of legal loopholes. South Carolina businesses and consumers deserve protection, and this bill gives law enforcement the tools to deliver it.
Keeping the Lights On: Securing South Carolina’s Energy Future
The House also took bold action this week to secure our state’s energy future. On Wednesday, H.3309, the South Carolina Energy Security Act, passed overwhelmingly – ensuring that as our population grows, we have the reliable and affordable power needed to fuel our economy. South Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and if we don’t act now, we could face energy shortages that threaten businesses and jobs. This legislation expands access to nuclear, natural gas, hydrogen, and renewables, cuts red tape to speed up approval of energy projects, and protects consumers from rising costs. The failure of the V.C. Summer nuclear project and the strain on our power grid during Winter Storm Elliott exposed serious vulnerabilities in our state’s energy infrastructure—this bill ensures we don’t wait until the next crisis to act. Energy security is economic security, and our caucus is committed to making sure South Carolina remains strong and independent.
Protecting Kids Online & Holding Big Tech Accountable
In addition to protecting our communities and securing our energy future, we made important progress on keeping South Carolina’s children safe online. The Social Media Regulation Act (H.3431) moved forward this week, passing out of the Judiciary Committee with a favorable vote. It’s no secret that social media has negatively impacted the mental health of children and teens, fueling rising rates of anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying. This legislation ensures that social media companies verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors, limits the collection of personal data from children, and restricts features designed to increase screen addiction. It also prohibits adults from directly messaging minors they aren’t connected to, helping to prevent online exploitation and predatory behavior. Big Tech has spent years putting profits over child safety, and it’s time to hold them accountable. South Carolina must lead the way in ensuring that parents have the tools to protect their children online.
By the time you read this column, I will have spent all week finalizing the House’s version of our budget in the Ways and Means Committee. This committee drafts the budget for all House members to consider. We will NOT send a budget forward that does not balance and we will not send a budget forward that borrows money. We will send a budget to the House floor where all 124 members can debate the merits of the appropriations throughout the state’s numerous agencies and our counties and local communities. March 10th is the week the House debates the budget. If you’re bored or just curious, you can always watch us in session at www.scstatehouse.gov. Select House Video and you can see the debate livestreamed. You can also watch almost every committee and subcommittee livestreamed throughout the year. Again, this is another huge improvement in transparency since I was first elected.
Staying Informed:
As the session progresses, I will continue to share updates like this one to keep you informed about the work being done in Columbia. These weekly columns are designed to provide insight into legislative priorities, progress, and key developments. If you ever have questions, concerns, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Your input is invaluable to me and helps ensure that I am representing your needs effectively.
Call me at the office 803-734-2969. Call me at home 803-834-4613. Email me at NathanBallentine@schouse.gov (be sure to put the word CONSTITUENT in the subject line so your email doesn’t get overlooked in the masses from around the state.) Or you can also contact me or post any comments on my website columns at www.nathansnews.com.
