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MORNING HEADLINES |  Ever since S.C. liquor liability insurance premiums started spiking in 2020 and forcing small bars and restaurants out of business, Statehouse observers have wondered whether lawmakers would use the crisis to push through a sweeping “lawsuit reform” bill, or craft a narrower fix.

On Thursday, a unanimous S.C. House came down firmly on the “narrow” side of that debate, even as the S.C. Senate appeared to kill a broad lawsuit reform bill sponsored by Sen. Majority Leader Shane Massey (R-Edgefield).

House leaders quickly touted their approach in a statement after the vote.

“This is a targeted, effective solution that businesses support and need now,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Wes Newton, R-Beaufort, said after the vote. “A similar bill passed the House last year, but the Senate refused to take it up. We addressed the concerns raised, built consensus with stakeholders, and delivered a more comprehensive bill that will provide real relief while maintaining accountability in alcohol service.”

According to House leaders, the bill “quickly and directly addresses the liquor liability crisis” with several targeted actions, including:

  • An end to joint and several liability for alcohol sales: Under the House bill, bar and restaurant owners who are found to be 1% responsible for the harm caused by a drunk driver could no longer be forced to pay 100% of the damages. 
  • Creation of a liquor liability risk mitigation program: Bars and restaurants would be incentivized to adopt responsible alcohol service policies to lower their insurance premiums.
  • Mandatory training: All servers and managers would be required to complete state-approved training to serve alcohol responsibly and recognize the signs of intoxication.

In addition to passing their own narrowly-focused legislation, House leaders announced the formation of a new committee to consider larger reforms to S.C.’s liability laws — a strong signal, according to one Statehouse insider, that members have no appetite for sweeping changes.

On the other side of the Statehouse, Massey expressed frustration when senators refused to kill an amendment that would effectively gut his bill.

“We’re done,” he told his colleagues after the vote. “It’s over. Congratulations, y’all, it’s done. There will be businesses closed now because of this.” The House bill will move to the Senate next week. —Jack O’Toole

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In Friday’s issue of the Charleston City Paper:

CP OPINION: Our View: A vile betrayal. “Our founding fathers rolled in their graves last week after America’s mad-king president and his toadying number two trampled the nation’s highest ideals during an Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.”

CP NEWS: Manatees visit South Carolina every year. Here’s how to take care of them. South Carolinians aren’t the only ones who spend their summers in the Palmetto State’s many rivers and creeks. Manatees periodically venture north every year from their Florida homes as the waters warm, taking several through South Carolina.

CP NEWS: Colonial Dames partially close historic Powder Magazine. The distant clippety-clop cadence grew louder as Charleston tour guide David Collins’s horse-drawn carriage loaded with tourists approached the Powder Magazine Museum on Cumberland Street.

CP NEWS: Structural issues force evacuation of Dockside condominiums. Updated: The quick and forced Feb. 28 evacuation of the 100+ units of Dockside condominium along the Cooper River might best be characterized as “unexpectedly expected.”

CP FOOD: Charleston women dish on food industry. In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8) and a week dedicated to food (hello, Charleston Wine + Food!), we asked several local women in the food and beverage industry what it means to be a woman working in food today.

CP ARTS: New gallery space offers local works, body art. Art often challenges us to stretch our imagination, shift perspective and adopt — or, at least, acknowledge — viewpoints outside of our normal frames of reference.

In other news:

S.C. inmate set to be executed today by firing squad. South Carolina is planning to execute a prisoner on Friday evening with a firing squad, an extremely rare method that has not been used in the United States since 2010.

Safety improvements could be coming for highly traveled Charleston highway. The state Department of Transportation could soon improve the busy Ashley River Road corridor.

Charleston County votes against mandating library board taking constitutional oath. Charleston County Council members on Thursday night voted down a proposed ordinance that would have mandated members of the county library board of trustees to swear an oath of office.

Charleston looking to purchase county property for affordable housing. The city of Charleston is looking to purchase property on the peninsula from Charleston County to build more affordable housing.

More than 300 short-term rentals operate in North Charleston without a permit. The city recently placed a cap on the number of short-term rentals in each district to control the inundation of vacation rentals in popular areas. But city officials aren’t sure if the new restriction will help them crack down on rentals that operate without a permit.

S.C. forms new partnership to aid human trafficking victims. Attorney General Alan Wilson will announce a new partnership that will impact human trafficking victim services across the state.

S.C.’s NPR affiliate is going independent amid increased government scrutiny. South Carolina’s public media stations are planning to sever ties with National Public Radio, announcing a move to go independent as congressional scrutiny into government-supplied broadcasting continues to swell.

S.C. House to vote on budget next week. Reps got a sneak peek already. Lawmakers who are not on the House’s budget-writing committee got a preview on Thursday of what they can expect to vote on next week when the chamber takes up the budget.

S.C. senators trying again to create vaping registry. A bill sent Thursday to the Senate floor would create a registry of vapes and e-cigarettes that are allowed to be sold in the state based on those that have approval or pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

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