February 5, 2021

Vote Alert!

Next week the Senate Judiciary Committee will debate the COVID-19 Liability Safe Harbor Act (S.147), which you might recall is a Chamber priority. I urge you to please reach out to your Senate member to ask them to support the legislation, which could go to the floor as early as next week. Please use the following talking points:

• The legislation is necessary because unresolved liability issues will only delay our economic recovery and threaten small businesses. 
• The intent is not to shield bad actors or businesses that act recklessly.
• There have already been several COVID-19 claims filed against South Carolina employers and other entities.
• SC is one of only three states in the Southeast that hasn’t implemented reasonable protections for employers who follow public health guidance, thus putting us at a disadvantage.
• This legislation is fair and does not protect companies who act recklessly or do not abide by state safety guidance and rightfully should not be allowed to claim a safe harbor from employee or customer lawsuits. 
• In fact, S.147 is the result of several concessions the business community has given to get safe harbor legislation passed.
• I support limited, temporary and commonsense protections to small businesses that do the right thing and follow public health guidelines so they will not face unnecessary, costly and time-consuming litigation.
• I ask for your commitment to support our state’s small businesses by passing S.147 without further amendments as quickly as possible.

Please send your message or make your phone call by Tuesday, February 9. This critical legislation is needed to help our state recover as quickly as possible amid this pandemic.

• Ronnie Sabb, Senate District 32, ronniesabb@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6024
• Stephen Goldfinch, Senate District 34, stephengoldfinch@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6172
• Larry Grooms, Senate District 37, larrygrooms@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6400
• Sean Bennett, Senate District 38, seanbennett@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6410
• Vernon Stephens, Senate District 39, vernonstephens@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6024
• Sandy Senn, Senate District 41, sandysenn@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6116
• Marlon Kimpson, Senate District 42, marlonkimpson@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6132
• Chip Campsen, Senate District 43, chipcampsen@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6340
• Brian Adams, Senate District 44, brianadams@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6056
• Margie Bright-Matthews, Senate District 45, margiebrightmatthews@scsenate.gov, 803-212-6108

Attainable Housing Workshop

The Charleston region is growing, but unfortunately, availability of attainable housing is not. Next Friday, the Chamber is hosting an Attainable Housing Workshop, and you have the unique opportunity to join us and work with fellow members to develop guiding principles for evaluating attainable housing policy. Make your voice heard and contribute to helping our region find a solution that accommodates projected growth and allows business to thrive.

Featured Speakers:

• Josh Dix, Government Affairs Director for the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and member of the Charleston County Housing Task Force
• Matt Ojala, Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Charleston

Friday, February 12, 1-3 p.m.
Questions? Contact Bailey Vincett at bvincett@charlestonchamber.org

George Ramsey
Senior Director of Legislative Relations