Month: February 2025

State Legislative Updates

February 24, 2025

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The House Ways and Means Committee completed its work on the state budget on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.   Below is a summary of the items impacting Clemson University:  Clemson E&G  $10.2 million in recurring funding for in state tuition mitigation $2 million in recurring funding for Student Experiential Learning  $2.5 million in recurring funding for the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism (CISC)  $13.2 million in nonrecurring funding for the NextGen Computing Complex $4.3 million in nonrecurring funding for Science Lab Building $1.4 million in recurring funding for Call Me MISTER Clemson PSA $600,000 in recurring funding for Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support  $1 million in recurring funding for Food Safety and Nutrition Agents  $500,000 in recurring funding for Critical Vehicles & Equipment​  $750,000 in nonrecurring funding for Ag in the Classroom The Committee included several items from the Executive Budget of impact to the University: $3.5 million in recurring lottery dollars for College Transition program scholarships (like ClemsonLIFE) $2 million in nonrecurring funding for a Systemic Study of Higher Ed  $10 million in recurring lottery dollars for the continuation of the initiative to address the shortage of instructors in nursing schools   The Committee included a base pay increase for state employees which will raise all full time employees to a new pay band, or 2%, whichever is greater.    The Committee’s version of the budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance for state employees. The employee portion will be partially paid by the state.     The budget now goes to the House of Representatives which is scheduled to debate the bill the week of March 10th.

THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS

The Senate Finance Committee continued begun agency budget subcommittee hearings.    Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests: Higher Education Subcommittee: Chairman Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry) Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland) Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville) Senator Ross Turner Clemson ’86 (R-Greenville) Senator Thomas McElveen (D-Sumter)   Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee: Chairman Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion) Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville) Senator Mike Gambrell Clemson ’80 (R-Abbeville) Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown)   From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.   The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.

BILLS OF INTEREST

The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have a potential impact on Clemson.     A complete listing of these bills may be found here: VIEW BILLS.

NEWS & FYI

Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter.

State Legislative Updates

February 18, 2025

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA H.3309 (South Carolina Energy Security Act) passed the House on Wednesday. This legislation seeks to aid the state in meeting future energy needs by simplifying building power plants by limiting government restrictions on new projects.   THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) concluded agency budget subcommittee hearings last week. The full Ways and Means Committee will begin budget deliberations at 10:00 this morning. The Senate Finance Committee has begun agency budget subcommittee hearings.  Dr. Matt Holt, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS) presented Clemson PSA’s budget requests to the Senate Finance Natural Resources and Economic Budget Subcommittee on Thursday, February 13.   Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests: Higher Education Subcommittee: Chairman Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry) Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland) Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville) Senator Ross Turner Clemson ’86 (R-Greenville) Senator Tom Young (R-Aiken)   Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee: Chairman Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion) Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville) Senator Mike Gambrell Clemson ’80 (R-Abbeville) Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown)   From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.   The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.   Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2025-26: Education & General – Recurring Tuition Mitigation – $23.1M Student Experiential Learning – $4.5M Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism (CISC) – $4M Clemson Energy Center – $4M Cybersecurity Research Compliance – $3M    Education & General – Nonrecurring NextGen Computing Complex – $40M Center for Human Genetics – $20M Science Lab Building – $35M   Public Service Activities – Recurring Food Safety and Nutrition Agents – Operational & Programmatic Support​ – $1.5M Regulatory, Cooperative Extension, and Experiment Station Operational & Programmatic Support ​- $760K Critical Vehicles & Equipment​ – $1M   Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring PSA Planned Maintenance & Critical Infrastructure​ – $7.36M Baruch Institute Research Support Facility​ – $9.9M   BILLS OF INTEREST The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have a potential impact on Clemson.   A complete listing of these bills may be found here: VIEW BILLS.   NEWS & FYI Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter.

State Legislative Updates

February 10, 2025

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA H. 3247 (Excused School Absences) was debated last week in the House Education Committee. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Patrick Haddon (R-Greenville), will allow school districts to excuse absences when students participate in work-based learning experiences, including, but not limited to Future Farmers of America and 4H.    Mrs. Alana West, SC 4-H Youth Development Assistant Director, and Mr. Troy Helms, State Director of Agricultural Education, provided testimony that further illustrated the need for this legislation. The bill received a favorable report from Subcommittee on Tuesday and a favorable report from Full Committee on Wednesday. The bill is now awaiting Second Reading on the House Floor.  Judicial elections were held last week during a joint session of the House and Senate. Much of the Senate’s work centered around debate of S.62 (Education Scholarship Trust Fund) which was passed by the Senate and sent to the House. THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week. The full Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to take up the budget the week of February 17.   The Senate Finance Committee has begun agency budget subcommittee hearings. President Jim Clements, along with Dr. Matt Holt, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS) will present Clemson PSA’s budget requests to the Senate Finance Natural Resources and Economic Budget Subcommittee on Thursday, February 13.   Senate Finance Budget Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests: Higher Education Subcommittee: Chairman Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry) Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland) Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville) Senator Ross Turner Clemson ’86 (R-Greenville) Senator Thomas McElveen (D-Sumter)   Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee: Chairman Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion) Senator Tom Corbin Clemson ’87 (R-Greenville) Senator Mike Gambrell Clemson ’80 (R-Abbeville) Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown)   From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.   The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.   Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2025-26: Education & General – Recurring Tuition Mitigation – $23.1M Student Experiential Learning – $4.5M Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism (CISC) – $4M Clemson Energy Center – $4M Cybersecurity Research Compliance – $3M    Education & General – Nonrecurring NextGen Computing Complex – $40M Center for Human Genetics – $20M Science Lab Building – $35M   Public Service Activities – Recurring Food Safety and Nutrition Agents – Operational & Programmatic Support​ – $1.5M Regulatory, Cooperative Extension, and Experiment Station Operational & Programmatic Support ​- $760K Critical Vehicles & Equipment​ – $1M   Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring PSA Planned Maintenance & Critical Infrastructure​ – $7.36M Baruch Institute Research Support Facility​ – $9.9M   BILLS OF INTEREST The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have a potential impact on Clemson.   A complete listing of these bills may be found here: VIEW BILLS.   NEWS & FYI Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.

State Legislative Updates

February 3, 2025

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Governor Henry McMaster delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday, January 29. The prepared text of the Governor’s remarks may be found here.

THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS

The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week.    President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) presented Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday, January 28. Later that afternoon, President Clements, along with Dr. Matt Holt (CAFLS Dean), presented budget requests for Clemson PSA to the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee.       House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests: Higher Education Subcommittee: Chairman Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington) Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) Representative Bill Taylor (R-Aiken)   Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Chairman Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) Representative David Weeks (D-Sumter) Representative Kevin Hardee (R-Horry)   From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.   The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.   Clemson’s state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2025-26: Education & General – Recurring Tuition Mitigation – $23.1M Student Experiential Learning – $4.5M Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism (CISC) – $4M Clemson Energy Center – $4M Cybersecurity Research Compliance – $3M    Education & General – Nonrecurring NextGen Computing Complex – $40M Center for Human Genetics – $20M Science Lab Building – $35M   Public Service Activities – Recurring Food Safety and Nutrition Agents – Operational & Programmatic Support​ – $1.5M Regulatory, Cooperative Extension, and Experiment Station Operational & Programmatic Support ​- $760K Critical Vehicles & Equipment​ – $1M   Public Service Activities – Nonrecurring PSA Planned Maintenance & Critical Infrastructure​ – $7.36M Baruch Institute Research Support Facility​ – $9.9M

BILLS OF INTEREST

The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have a potential impact on Clemson.   A complete listing of these bills may be found here: VIEW BILLS.

NEWS & FYI

Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter.