Have a mobile phone? Of course you do. You probably yak on it and text your pals and do whatever you need to do on it, all day, all the time. In the prefiled bills, there are plenty that deal with your ability to use your phone in the car, or at a prison.

We’ll start of with the transportation bills. The first one comes from Rep. Don Bowen, and is going to hit pretty hard on females aged 16-28.

H. 4189: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3890 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE TEXT MESSAGING, TEXTING, RECEIVING, OR READING TEXT MESSAGES OR PRINTED READING MATERIALS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

Please, please, please — we hate text messaging when people are not traveling at more than 35mph, much less while behind wheel. The General Assembly shouldn’t have to pass a law to make you put the thing away. Joining Bowen in Rep. Bakari Sellers, who reminds you to not talk on your phone, either.

H. 4190: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3890 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO USE A HANDHELD WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WHILE DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THIS PROVISION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO THE SCHEDULE OF POINTS ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT USING A HANDHELD WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WHILE DRIVING IS A TWO POINT VIOLATION.

Don’t think that the law is the only thing you may have to worry about when you whip out your celly for the latest important call. You can now be held civilly liable, if a bill proposed by Rep. Garry Smith goes through.

H. 4206: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 15-1-305 SO AS TO ALLOW THE INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE IN A CIVIL ACTION OF THE USE OF A CELL PHONE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC HANDHELD COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AT THE TIME OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.

In the past few months, there’s been quite a bit of hullabaloo about mobile phones in prison. Some law enforcement agencies are using jamming towers to make sure that inmates can’t use them, and the use of such towers has been debated in court. Rep. Herb Kirsh is putting in legislation to make it illegal for an inmate to have a phone, or to give a phone to a prisoner.

H. 4191: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 24-3-955 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO POSSESS A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE ON THE PREMISES OF A DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO GIVE OR SELL A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE OR ITS COMPONENTS TO AN INMATE OR TO A PERSON FOR DELIVERY TO AN INMATE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.

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.