Here we give you the best of the rest, the bills that were noteworthy, but didn’t have other bills that were interesting enough to pair up with. There’s a little bit of everything in here.

Including snakes. And alligators. And God-knows-what-all that Rep. Herb Kirsh is introducing a bill regarding. It’s pretty much developing a full realm of regulation involving reptiles that’ll kill you as soon as hiss, growl, rattle, or just sneak up and bite your ass off.

H. 4218: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 17 TO TITLE 50 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF VENOMOUS REPTILES, CONSTRICTING SNAKES, AND CROCODILIANS, INCLUDING SPECIFICATIONS FOR HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION ENCLOSURES, WRITTEN BITE, SAFETY, AND ESCAPE PROTOCOLS; LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES; REQUIREMENTS TO DETERMINE IF A REPTILE IS REGULATED UNDER THIS CHAPTER AND FOR MAKING FINAL DISPOSITIONS OF THESE REPTILES; ACTIVITIES NOT SUBJECT TO REGULATION UNDER THIS CHAPTER; CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN CONDUCT CONSTITUTES RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND SUBJECTS VIOLATORS TO PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CIVIL ACTIONS.

It always seemed as though the lieutenant governor’s office didn’t need term limits. Anyone who stays in that office past two terms either has a screw loose, or must be taking some sweet kick-back deals. That’s not stopping Rep. Tim Scott, though, who wants to limit the occupant to two consecutive terms.

H. 4182: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IV OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE PERSON ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 2014, NO PERSON MAY BE ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR MORE THAN TWO SUCCESSIVE TERMS.

And, we’re back again at common-law marriage. Why we’re still having to deal with this in the 21st century doesn’t seem to make sense, but Rep. Grady Brown is ready to go.

H. 4201: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-1-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT COMMON LAW MARRIAGE IN THIS STATE MAY NOT BE RECOGNIZED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2010, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR A COMMON LAW MARRIAGE EXISTING AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 20-1-360 RELATING TO THE VALIDITY OF A MARRIAGE CONTRACTED WITHOUT THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE.

Remember the reforms passed by the General Assembly during the extended session regarding the Employment Security Commission? Ah, well, it still needs enabling legislation. Its chief sponsor is House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, accompanied by Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell and Reps. Harry Cato, Dan Cooper, Jeff Duncan, Jim Harrison, Leon Howard, Phil Owens, Brian White, Annette Young, Harry Ott and Gilda Cobb-Hunter.

H. 4203: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE “EMPLOYMENT SECURITY FUNDING AND REFORM ACT”.

Rounding it out is Rep. Bakari Sellers, who put in legislation that does a bit of restructuring in how the state administers education. Let’s see — it starts out by requiring that the high school graduation rate be tallied by race or ethnicity, and released by September of each year, then to eliminate the Education Oversight Committee, by taking out the EOC and moving its responsibilities into the state Department of Education. Anybody that loves strike-throughs will be exited by the text of this bill.

H. 4197: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-505 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO RELEASE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE DATA BASED ON RACE OR ETHNICITY BY SEPTEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR; TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-1-450, 59-1-452, AS AMENDED, 59-1-453, 59-6-10, 59-16-70, 59-18-120, AS AMENDED, 59-18-310, AS AMENDED, 59-18-320, AS AMENDED, 59-18-350, AS AMENDED, 59-18-900, AS AMENDED, 50-18-920, AS AMENDED, 59-18-950, 59-18-1500, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1510, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1530, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1540, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1570, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1590, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1700, AS AMENDED, 59-18-1930, AS AMENDED, 59-21-440, 59-21-600, 59-21-1210, 59-24-65, 59-26-20, AS AMENDED, 59-28-150, 59-28-190, 59-28-200, AS AMENDED, 59-28-210, 59-29-170, 59-29-220, 59-40-70, AS AMENDED, 59-40-230, 59-50-20, AS AMENDED, 59-59-170, 59-63-65, 59-139-10, 59-139-40, 59-139-60, AND 59-150-325, ALL RELATING TO THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, TO CHANGE CERTAIN REFERENCES FROM THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, OR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, AND TO DELETE CERTAIN REFERENCES TO THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 59-6-15, 59-6-16, 59-6-17, 59-6-20, 59-6-30, 59-6-100, AND 59-6-110 ALL RELATING TO THE BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM MONITORING; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-21-1220 RELATING TO THE CAMPUS INCENTIVE PROGRAM; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 59-24-100 AND 59-24-110 BOTH RELATING TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-28-220 RELATING TO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYER TAX CREDIT INCENTIVES; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-139-50 RELATING TO A PLAN FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-141-10 RELATING TO NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS.

For South Carolinians watching the debate on Tuesday in the House on Rep. Greg Delleney‘s bill on a 24-hour waiting period on abortions (tied to the viewing of an ultrasound), it may have seemed at times like having bamboo shoved under your fingernails would have been a more enjoyable experience. However, legislators, consultants and bloggers were tuned in, and tweeting like there was no tomorrow.

JoeyMillwood: Social Conservative fight taking off on house floor.
JoeyMillwood: Is a 24-hour wait period before an abortion unreasonable? I don’t think so.
AntonJGunn: is in session listening to people debate a 2 visit requirement to have an abortion.
JoeyMillwood: Dems are using lack of females in the House body as an argument against 24-hour wait before an abortion.
JoeyMillwood: Chairman Howard isn’t interested in the lives of unborn children.
JoeyMillwood: Dems think there’s something more importan than protecting the lives of unborn babies.
laurinmanning: @AntonJGunn – love assumption that women are too dumb to think for themselves before 1st doc visit. Perhaps all-male Senate will elaborate.
JoeyMillwood: Rep. Ken Kennedy wants to let his granddaughter to have an abortion if she wishes if she gets pregnant..
dphamilton: Democrats complaining we’re wasting time debating 24 hour waiting period on abortion, yet they are tying up the House floor on it.
AntonJGunn: 2 day wait period debate: This is such a waste of time.
PhilBaileySC: Listening to the Right Wingnuts playing to the base. I guess a discussion on bringing jobs to SC will have to wait for another day.
SCHouseDems: House debating 24-hour waiting period bill on abortions. Wish republicans would talk about creating jobs instead.
LachlanMcIntosh: SC GOP – Appeasing the crazy nut jobs who make up their base instead of helping patriotic hardworking South Carolinians who are struggling
AntonJGunn: Rep. Cobb-Hunter schooling the freshmen on the history of lawmaking in the GA on social issues. You go girl!
AntonJGunn: This is must see TV. All those at home/work turn on ETV.
boydbrown: amazed that we’re in 2009, and the GOP continues to bring up abortion
JoeyMillwood: Dems want at-will abortion, so of course they don’t want females to take 24 hours to think about whether they want to kill an unborn child.
JoeyMillwood: Now Rep. Cobb-Hunter wants to call on fiscal conservatism. It takes us fighting to save unborn children.
annephutto: listening to Gilda argue for women’s rights
JoeyMillwood: Republicans in the House fighting for the rights of unborn children today.
JoeyMillwood: Rep Cobb-Hunter calling out Dems that will vote for the 24-hour wait period before an abortion.
JoeyMillwood: Rep. Delleney makes valid points. You have to wait 24 hours to get married in SC. Why not wait 24 hours before you get an abortion?
laurinmanning: Old white man in SC House telling me that women are the ones leading the pro-life movement in state.
laurinmanning: Listening to Rep. Delleny interpret Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Justice O’Connor would be fascinated (mortified?).
AntonJGunn: @JoeyMillwood I didn’t wait 24 hours before I got married?
laurinmanning: Go @boydbrown! Bahahaha
LachlanMcIntosh: If this debate were on the networks, SC would turn blue overnight. The SC GOP is out of touch and out of ideas. It’s time for change.
laurinmanning: Fascinating that GOP lawmakers are pro-life yet okay with gutting Medicaid for poor children.
LachlanMcIntosh: @boydbrown Get em’ Rep. Boyd Brown! Expose these guys for this nonsense. Stand up for the people of this state.
laurinmanning: @adampiper let’s see how much unemployment goes up the more access to reproductive care is inhibited
Snead101: @laurinmanning And AGAINST information that prevents pregnancies but FOR information that prevents abortions @sctweets
boydbrown: the 17.5% of unemployed people in Chester County are more concerned about 24 hr wait period for abortions than they are job creation?
Snead101: New favorite characterization of South Carolina government: Horse and Buggy #sctweets #topprog
laurinmanning: We have got to get some more freaking women in the General Assembly. #sctweets
PhilBaileySC: This was said in theSenate in the last abortion debate: GOPSen toDem: please kill this bill,I can’t go home to my wife having voted for this
laurinmanning: Rep. Smith – Are raped women the only thinking women seeking reproductive care? #sctweets
AntonJGunn: Wondering what the Lord thinks about the South Carolina House and this debate. Good thing HE only knows.
laurinmanning: @ragley Still not enough. We have the only all-male state senate in the country!
laurinmanning: I’m going to buy Rep. Delleny a uterus for Christmas.
PhilBaileySC: @laurinmanning He’ll have to disclose that on his statement of economic interest.
LachlanMcIntosh: I wonder if Repubs like A. Young, Erickson, Harrell, and Duncan will make raped women wait for an abortion
PhilBaileySC: My Rep, Jim Harrison just voted to make raped women go through 24 more hours of agony.
alexstroman: RT @cdelleney: I’m so proud of my Daddy and his efforts to protect the innocent life of the unborn.| I am too Caroline Proud to work for him
LinBennett: @AntonJGunn Don’t know what He thinks but I’ll bet He’s not pleased that this even has to be discussed in the first place. #sctweets #sctcot
boydbrown: this was a dead issue in 1992 (I was six) in most parts of the Nation. Thanks SCGOP for helping me realize why we’re in the shape we’re in
LachlanMcIntosh: Erickson, Young and Harrell are out of touch with people they are supposed to represent. Look for Dems to pick up more seats on the coast
boydbrown: I saw Rob Miller wondering around the Statehouse, he must have heard how Shannon Erickson was voting on this bill
laurinmanning: Gilda Cobb-Hunter appreciates Delleny’s retention of what he learned in biology re: # of chromosomes, etc. Bahahaha #sctweets
laurinmanning: SC House’s abortion 24-hour waiting period debate has left me in severe need of a drink on this last day of my 27th year.
Snead101: Delleny doesn’t want to enforce restrictions on businesses, has no problem forcing regulations on women #sctweets
adampiper: @schousedems This is not a “wedge issue” – this is about principles not politics. Y’all are the ones playing politics with the unborn.
adampiper: Protecting the life of the unborn is “Arrogant”??? That what SC Dems think. @tcot @sctweets
JoeyMillwood: I think we should pass a bill with a nine-month waiting period before abortions. In other words, let’s ban the horrible thing.
JoeyMillwood: Rep. Phil Owens going at it on the floor of House for 24-hour wait before an abortion. Dems have stalled long enough.
JoeyMillwood: The fact is that Dems support the abortion of babies. As a father of a one-year-old I couldn’t imagine anyone killing a baby.
AntonJGunn: I am clear that nothing that is being said from the podium today is changing ANYONE’s mind today.
thadviers: still in session debating abortion bill
adampiper: @AntonJGunn – what’s so wrong with 24 hours?
boydbrown: 3rd Highest in the Nation jobless rate… What are we doing to fix this problem? We’re voting to wait 24 hours to have an abortion
JoeyMillwood: The life of a child is more important than the dems have made it out to be today.
adampiper: @schousedems – attacking crisis pregnancy services just ain’t cool. #sctweets #tcot
AntonJGunn: Cobb-Hunter is so entertaining this is must see ETV. I see why she got the Wilkins Award.
JoeyMillwood: Protecting the lives of children is getting on our “high horse,” according to Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter.
laurinmanning: @adampiper attacking women’s access to reproductive care just ain’t cool. #sctweets
laurinmanning: @adampiper assuming a woman isn’t capable of making tough decisions until the state mandates 24hr thinking period is arrogant.
JoeyMillwood: So many Democrats just don’t get it. We protect children in South Carolina. The bill is about to pass.
dphamilton: House votes to pass 24 hour waiting period on abortions by a vote of 83-28.

TUESDAY
Bills introduced

• H. 3446, introduced by Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, to express the gratitude of the House to Debbie Parker Hankins on her retirement as the House journal clerk.
• H. 3470, introduced by Rep. B.R. Skelton, to increase the cigarette tax to 50 cents per pack, with money to go to a smoking cessation and prevention fund, a marketing fund for state crops, the Medicaid trust fund and a health care trust fund.
• H. 3471, introduced by Rep. Richard Chalk, to raise the cigarette tax to 45 cents per pack.
• H. 3478, introduced by Rep. Don Bowen, to institute a performance bonus for public school teachers, not to exceed five percent of the teacher’s salary.
• H. 3483, introduced by Rep. Brian White, to propose a constitutional amendment to protect hunting, trapping and fishing.
• S. 392, introduced by Sen. Tom Davis, restructuring the State Ports Authority with a director appointed by the governor.
• S. 398, introduced by Sen. Lee Bright, the Senate companion to the House “born alive” bill.

Other action
Both the fusion voting bill (H. 3067) and the abortion ultrasound bill (H. 3245) were placed on the contested calendar for the House.

S. 4, the “Teacher Protection Act,” which was chief sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, was passed by the Senate 40-0 on the third reading.

Scenes from the floor
Rep. Jimmy Merrill, asking questions on the rural telephony bill.
Merrill: Could these guys move out of the way? Whoever is handing out stuff, so that we could see? Hey, excuse me, get ou…I can’t even see. Thank you.
Rep. Michael Thompson: You have a way with words, Mr. Merrill.
Merrill: It’s all I got, man.
Thompson: I know the feeling.

Rep. Grady Brown on Rep. Carl Anderson‘s birthday.
Brown: Thank you Mr. Speaker, House members, ladies and gentlemen. If you would give me your attention please, just a moment. Today is a very special day for my deskmate. He wouldn’t tell me how many, but when you see Carl Anderson today, Rep. Carl Anderson, you would want to, especially…SHHHHHHHHHH. It always works. Even for adults, it works. I learned that, when I DJ. People want to hush. But, anyway, Carl Anderson has a birthday today. So, Carl, would you please stand? He is 39 years old today. Happy birthday, Carl.

And, tonight, when you leave the judges reception, we will be at Rust again, behind the Motor Supply, doing beach music for four hours. So, for those of you who would like to, we’d like to have you drop by. Thank you.

Harrell, on lunches.
Harrell: The Democratic Caucus has a cold sandwich lunch, according to your leader [laughter from the chamber], in Room 305 of the Blatt Building. The Republicans, during our regular lunchtime, have a hot lunch available in Room 105 of the Blatt Building.

WEDNESDAY
Bills introduced
S. 400, by Sen. Creighton Coleman, congratulating Tyler Thigpen, the first quarterback for Coastal Carolina, on his accomplishments with the Chanticleers and on becoming the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Bills reported out of committee

• H. 3342, by Rep. Greg Delleney, the House “born alive” bill.
• H. 3418, by Harrell, the House voter ID bill.

Second reading

• H. 3463, chief sponsored by Rep. Garry Smith, which eliminates the provision that electronic traffic tickets have to be printed in different colors, depending on the offense.
• S. 1, McConnell’s bill on spending caps, carried over per the resolution of Sen. Larry Grooms.
• S. 12, Sen. Hugh Leatherman‘s Tax Realignment Commission bill, carried over per Leatherman, not to be considered before Feb. 19.

Judicial elections
The following people were elected to state courts.
Kaye Hearn, Court of Appeals, Seat Five
Thomas Cooper, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Seat Three
Roger Young, Ninth Judicial Circuit, Seat Three
Carmen Tevis Mullen, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Seat Two
Benjamin Culbertson, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Seat Two
Rupert Markley Davis Jr., Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Two
Clifton Newman, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Three
Edward Miller, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Four
J. Mark Hayes II, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Five
Jesse Cordell Maddox Jr., Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Seven
Michelle Childs, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Nine
James R. Barber III, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Ten
Edgar Warren Dickson, First Judicial Circuit, Seat One
William Jeffrey Young, Circuit Court At-Large, Seat One
William Henry Seals Jr., Circuit Court At-Large, Seat Six
Edgar Henderson Long Jr., Family Court, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Seat One
Alex Kinlaw Jr., Family Court, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Seat Six
Deborah Brooks Durden, Administrative Law Court, Seat Four

Scenes from the floor
Former Sen. John Drummond made an appearance at the State House.

Rep. Ken Kennedy, referring to debate under cloture of the payday lending bill.
Kennedy: If they would just refer all of their time to me, I will do the speaking against it for them.
Harrell: As long as no one raises a point of order, and when you’re through with 10 minutes, as long as the Chair doesn’t just say, “Mr. Kennedy, you’re at the end of your time,” then that would be OK. But, I’m guessing one of those two things will happen, Mr. Kennedy. Ms. Young is assuring me that one of those two things will happen [laughter from the chamber].

Rep. Chris Hart, on issues with legislative power and the payday lending bill.
Hart: None of ‘em made it out, in the six months that we were in session. We’re now in session, second week, February. This bill is on the floor. Look at the lead sponsors of the bill. That tells you why this bill is on the floor. We have 15 different bills in LCI committee right now, dealing with deferred presentment. Not one got a hearing.
::Inaudible due to overloading of the LPITS server.::
How come the bills from last year did not get out of subcommittee, but this one is on the floor? Can somebody please raise a hand and tell me why is this bill on the floor? [laughter from the chamber]
Unidentified legislator: Look behind you! [laughter from the chamber]

Rep. Bakari Sellers, on his amendment to the payday lending bill.
Sellers: Why am I only giving them a dime?
Acting Speaker Jim Harrison: Ms. Cobb-Hunter is recognized for a question.
Sellers: Mr. Speaker, may I answer her? Rep. Cobb-Hunter, in my heart, I would love to give them a dollar, or a dollar and fifty cent. I think financial literacy programs are programs that need to be taught throughout the state more often. I do realize that leaving this body $400,000 may be a coup. It’s something that we need to take over to the Senate, and see if we may be able to, one day, be able to offer more. But, at this time, $400,000 a year, if we can move for adoption….
Harrison: Mr. Sellers, you have a question from Mr. …. Mr. Gunn. Mr. Gunn has a question, Mr. Sellers.
Rep. Anton Gunn: Rep. Sellers, is this your attempt to drop a dime on the industry?
Sellers: I like that language. We’re going to, I guess.
Gunn: Is that a yes?
Sellers: Yes.
Gunn: OK. Thank you.

Following the Q&A between Cobb-Hunter and Rep. Eric Bedingfield on the EFCA resolution.
Harrell: Gentlemen….
Sellers: [joking] It’s a Black Caucus meeting! [laughter from the chamber]
Harrell: Mr. Rutherford [chuckles], and Mr. Gunn, and Rev. Neal, and Mr. Hart, Mr. Kennedy has complained that you have congregated over there. [chuckles] All right. Mr. Kennedy is recognized.

Tweeting the payday lending bill debate.
Rep. Thad Viers: there are 30 freaking amds on the desk….time for the cloture kitty to come out and play!!!
Rep. Nathan Ballentine: good thing Rep Chris Hart is already on 3M committee….speaking truth to power can be costly around here
Rep. Dan Hamilton: only 30 more amendments on the payday lending bill…great. Honey, I won’t be home for dinner
Rep. Joey Millwood: I wish I brought an overnight bag. This is seriously going to be late. I learned that lesson!
Hamilton: Its the Alan Clemmons amendment show today at the State House.
Millwood: We’re saving jobs and the free market in the House today!
Gunn: Got the Hell beat out of me on Pay Day Lending. Good guys lost one today.

THURSDAY
Bills introduced

• H. 3509, introduced by Rep. Michael Pitts, to affirm the rights of all states, and South Carolina, under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments.
• H. 3521, introduced by Sellers, to establish a committee to more fully investigate the Orangeburg Massacre and submit a report on its findings.
• H. 3523, introduced by Skelton, to institute a statewide smoking ban, excepting private clubs.
• H. 3526, introduced by Rep. Liston Barfield, to institute the “Right to Life Act”. The act would, “establish that the right to life for each born and preborn human being vests at fertilization, and that the rights of due process and equal protection, guaranteed by Article I, Section 3 of the constitution of this state, vest at fertilization for each born and preborn human person.”
• H. 3527, introduced by Barfield, the 2009 version of the infamous “fetus statue” monument.
• H. 3537, introduced by Millwood, requiring that the Legislative Audit Council conduct an annual audit, choosing randomly, on one-fifth of the state’s school districts. The bill grants the LAC power to contract out to an independent firm. The school district, in this cash-strapped time, is required to pay for the audit, whether it is by the state or an independent firm. The bill does not say where the districts are supposed to come up with this money.
• S. 424, introduced by Bright, to affirm South Carolina sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. Wade Hampton approves.

The General Assembly resumes on Feb. 17.