Lawsuit Reform

S 353, H 3053, H 3933, & S 533: Amending section of SC Code 15-38-15, relating to liability of defendants and apportionment of damages in lawsuits.

Short-Term Rentals

H 3253: Prohibiting a municiplaity from enacting or enforcing ordinances that prohibit the rental of a residential dwelling to a shortterm guest.

Why we are monitoring:

Current state law can leave a defendant on the hook for all damages in a lawsuit regardless of their percentage of fault. The current system adversely impacts businesses, including small businesses that cannot survive a hefty lawsuit - leading to increased insurance premiums, reduced availability of coverage, and a target on entities that are perceived as having "deep pockets."

Alcohol

S 260: Establishment, implementation and enforcement of a mandatory alcohol server training and education program.

Why we are monitoring:

The SCRLA is not against STRs. We believe that consumers should have a variety of lodging options from which to choose from while traveling. We do however support locally determined, common-sense STR regulations which preserve traditional neighborhoods, promote a stronge sense of community, and ensures that a level playing field is shared by both STRs and traditional lodging establishments. This means ensuring the appropriate amount of taxes are being remitted to the respective state and local entities, current business licenses are maintained, health and safety inspections are regularly conducted, etc.

H 3150: Giving SC DOR the authority to issue multiple permits to sell liquor, beer, and wine at multiple locations on multiple days at a festival on one application instead of multiple.

H 3147: Allowing a micro-distellery to operate a food establishment on premise of business.

Why we are monitoring:

South Carolina's alcohol laws are in desperate need of modernization and overhaul. The General Assembly must act on streamlining existing licensing practices and remove any unnecessary red tape surrounding how a business owner chooses to operate.

Workforce

S 25: Prohibiting employers from considering prior convictions prior to conferring a job offer to an employee.

H 3726: Establishing the Office of Statewide Workforce Development.

H 3605 & S 165: Prohibiting the SC LLR from denying professional licenses based solely or in part to a prior criminal conviction.

Why we are monitoring:

During last year's Community Conversations, our members identified workforce development as the number one priority for the SCLRA Governmenal Affairs team to focus on at the Statehouse this session. The General Assembly should do all in its power to ensure that South Carolina has an educated and reliable workforce and that unnecessary barriers to entry are removed for the potentional job seekers.

Minimum Wage

S 28: Statewide ballot initiative for raising the minimum wage.

S 216: Raising the minimum wage by $2.00 above the federal minimum wage for all hours worked in the SC.

S 291: Raising the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour for all hourly workers.

H 3450: Excluding overtime and certain bonuses from gross income for income. tax purposes.

H 3805: Raising the minimum wafe to $17.00 an hour for all hourly workers.

Why we are monitoring:

Many within the restaurant industry and lodging industries are already paid at a rate higher than state and federally required minimums. Maintaing the existing tip credit and tipping system is important because it provides tipped employees with greater earning potential and operators with the capability to reinvest in their non-tipped employees and businesses.

S 284 & H 3869: Using A-Tax funds for affordable workforce housing.

Why we are monitoring:

State and local hospitality and accommodation tax dollars must be spent in accordance with applicable law. This means these funds should be specifically used for destination marketing, essential government services such as police and fire, as well as funding for affordable workforce housing, but only for employees of the hospitality industry.

Hate Crimes

S 3, S 296, H 3005, H 3014, & H 3020: Penalty enhancements for hate crimes

Why we are monitoring:

South Carolina is one of two states in the nation that does not have hate crime legislation on the books. It is time for the General Assembly to get the job done and pass legislation that protects all South Carolinians.

Public School Start Date

S 65: Giving individuals school districts that authority to set their own public school start date.

H 3317: Eliminates the provision requiring the opening date for public schools to be the third Monday in August and giving individual school districts the authority to set their own public school start date.

Why we are monitoring:

Individual public school districts should have the power to set their own school calendar. These proposed changes would give restaurants and hotels access to a wider pool of seasonal workers when they need them the most during the busy summer season.

2023 State of the Industry Report

Industry Impact In South Carolina

Coronavirus Travel Recovery Options

Oxford Economics Analysis – January 2023

Hotels power America’s economy, invest in our communities and support our employees in all 50 states. As an industry, we not only provide good-paying jobs in every state and district, with every direct hotel job supporting an additional 2.6 jobs in the community, we also drive significant state and local tax revenue. In 2023, the hotel industry is poised to continue its strong recovery from the pandemic’s effects on travel, achieving record demand and revenue figures. Despite this, ongoing staffing shortages continue to affect hotel businesses, the guest experience, and local communities. AHLA is committed to addressing these challenges and other issues affecting small businesses.

Below is a snapshot of the industry’s impact in South Carolina.

32,567 DIRECT HOTEL JOBS SUPPORTED

123,636

TOTAL JOBS SUPPORTED

$3.6 BILLION 2022 ROOM REVENUE

$743.8 MILLION STATE & LOCAL TAX REVENUE GENERATED

1,268

2022 HOTEL PROPERTIES IN STATE

26.2 MILLION ROOMS SOLD IN 2022