State House Update: Let’s win this
We had a fun week last week adding co-sponsors to Rep. Bingham’s Conservation Bank bill. We have over half of the House signed on! Please thank your Representative for adding their name to it, or encourage them to do so this week before it’s filed. The bill mirrors Senator Campsen’s bill in the Senate (S.519). It will eliminate the sunset, improve the death clause, and increase funding by .05 cents (as recommended by the Wetlands Task Force). We also appreciate that the DNR Board supports both the Campsen and Bingham bills.
The Senate should finally have a chance this week to restore the permanent baseline language to S.139 from DHEC’s Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) on Shoreline Management’s recommendations. We’ve been talking about setting a permanent baseline to limit seaward development on our shoreline for several Years — and it’s finally time to act. We thank Senator Cleary for pushing for a permanent baseline in keeping with the BRC’s recommendations. We need to make sure our Senators vote for conservation. Please email your Senator about S.139 today.
After about two Years of pursuing recognition of Lake Conestee Nature Park as a “Wildlife Sanctuary” in state statutes (like Beidler Forest and numerous other properties around the state) our friends at the Conestee Foundation have H.4743, introduced last week by Representatives Eric Bedingfield and Chandra Dillard. The bill is in a House Ag subcommittee this Wednesday, and we’ll be there in support. This is long overdue and we’re happy to see the Park get this recognition.
Finally, due to changes in the legislative calendar, we’ve had to reschedule our Conservation Lobby Day and Oyster Roast. Please save the date for March 8th. We’ll have a full day of advocacy at the State House followed by a reception and oyster roast at 701 Whaley St. Stay tuned for more details. If you’d like to sponsor the oyster roast, please email me at [email protected].