More Pre-Filed Bills Get A Head Start On Jan. Session

State lawmakers have pre-filed more bills to get a head start on the legislative session that starts next month.

—BRING BACK SALES TAX ON GROCERIES. One of the bills would reinstate the sales tax on groceries. It was removed last year as part of the plan to lower property taxes in exchange for a higher sales tax. The average family of four would pay about $225 more a year.

—BRING BACK AUTO INSPECTIONS. Another bill would bring back annual safety inspections for cars and trucks.

—ELIMINATE PAROLE. A bill supported by the state Attorney General would eliminate parole but create a new “Middle Court” for drug offenders to require treatment instead of prison.

—REQUIRE PARTY REGISTRATION. Right now in South Carolina, anyone can vote in either political party’s primary. This pre-filed bill would require you to register with a party to be able to vote in its primary.

—SMALLER CLASSES. This bill would require in grades K through 6 a student-teacher ratio of 27 to 1 in 2010 and 25 to 1 in 2011.

—SHORTER SCHOOL WEEK. Another bill would allow schools to go to a 4-day school week.

—SHORTER LEGISLATIVE SESSION. Two bills would shorten the legislative session, one by a month at the beginning and the other by a month at the end. Instead of meeting from the second Tuesday in January until the first Thursday in June, lawmakers would meet from the second Tuesday in February until the first Thursday in May.

Read all the prefiled bills