Committee advances three bills: auditor selection change, military chaplain privilege, and higher threshold for small-estate handling
February 11, 2025 | Judiciary, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina
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A House Judiciary Committee session on Monday advanced three bills on varied topics, issuing favorable reports on a constitutional-law measure about the state auditor, a bill defining confidentiality privileges for military chaplains, and a probate-related measure raising the small-estate threshold.
H 3430: Representative Jordan presented House Bill 34 30, which would change selection of the state auditor from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority (known as SFAA or SPA) to appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Jordan said the measure unanimously passed the House last year but the Senate did not take it up. The subcommittee ordered a roll call and H 3430 received a favorable report by vote of 19 in favor, 0 opposed and 5 not voting.
H 3798: Representative Moore described H 3798 as establishing qualifications for military chaplains in the state militia and creating a clergy-penitent–style privilege for certain confidential communications made to chaplains in their official capacity. The bill specifies that chaplains must be properly ordained and endorsed by recognized military endorsing agencies and states a judge or presiding official may determine that the privilege does not apply in particular cases. The committee reported the bill favorably by vote of 22 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting.
H 3472: Representative Bernstein presented H 3472, which amends South Carolina probate law to raise the monetary threshold for small-estate administrations from $25,000 to $45,000 for personal property (the bill does not apply to real property). Bernstein said stakeholders agreed to $45,000 after initial drafts proposed $50,000. Committee discussion touched on local probate practice differences, how funeral expenses and insurance settlements are handled, and examples where a $25,000 threshold can be burdensome. The committee reported H 3472 favorably as amended by a vote of 22 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting.
All three bills now move forward with favorable subcommittee/committee reports. The committee made several scheduling and procedural announcements at adjournment.
H 3430: Representative Jordan presented House Bill 34 30, which would change selection of the state auditor from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority (known as SFAA or SPA) to appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Jordan said the measure unanimously passed the House last year but the Senate did not take it up. The subcommittee ordered a roll call and H 3430 received a favorable report by vote of 19 in favor, 0 opposed and 5 not voting.
H 3798: Representative Moore described H 3798 as establishing qualifications for military chaplains in the state militia and creating a clergy-penitent–style privilege for certain confidential communications made to chaplains in their official capacity. The bill specifies that chaplains must be properly ordained and endorsed by recognized military endorsing agencies and states a judge or presiding official may determine that the privilege does not apply in particular cases. The committee reported the bill favorably by vote of 22 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting.
H 3472: Representative Bernstein presented H 3472, which amends South Carolina probate law to raise the monetary threshold for small-estate administrations from $25,000 to $45,000 for personal property (the bill does not apply to real property). Bernstein said stakeholders agreed to $45,000 after initial drafts proposed $50,000. Committee discussion touched on local probate practice differences, how funeral expenses and insurance settlements are handled, and examples where a $25,000 threshold can be burdensome. The committee reported H 3472 favorably as amended by a vote of 22 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting.
All three bills now move forward with favorable subcommittee/committee reports. The committee made several scheduling and procedural announcements at adjournment.
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