Latest News + Updates from Bill Herbkersman

Legislative News

Current happenings in the SC House of Representatives. see more

4/29/22: SC LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING

"The bill that has been introduced for South Carolina calls for a 10% tax rate on adjusted gross revenue. So it would be a real income producer for the state." read more

3/29/22: Medicaid coverage for expecting mothers extended to 12 months postpartum: SCDHHS

“Establishing continuous health care coverage during a new mother’s first year postpartum is critical to supporting strong family foundations,” - SCDHHS Director Robby Kerr. read more

3/15/22: PAID TUITION & FEES THROUGH SUMMER

The Technical College of the Lowcountry is offering paid tuition and fees* through the summer 2022 semester, thanks to a combination of newly available federal, state and private funding sources. find out more

3/4/22: CVSC Endorses Herbkersman for 2022

"In addition, your support in 2021 and 2022 to fight for clean drinking water has been critical in raising awareness and driving action on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water. Thanks to your leadership, rural communities throughout South Carolina may soon be able to drink water from their tap again without fear of it harming their health." read more

1/19/22: BEAUFORT CO. RESIDENTS CAN NOW ORDER FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS FROM USPS

"The testing initiative was rolled out as Beaufort County again set a new record Tuesday for its seven-day average of confirmed COVID-19 cases." read more

7/15/21: State funding aims to address nursing shortage in SC

“Lawmakers, like Representative Bill Herbkersman, hope to address the issue with state funding. The Republican from Beaufort earmarked $1 million in the state budget to help technical colleges expand their nursing programs.” read more

6/25/21: EDITORIAL: SUTHERLAND DEATH PROMPTED PROMISING SC PROGRAM. HERE’S WHAT ELSE WE NEED

“At a meeting just three weeks after video was released showing the last moments of Mr. Sutherland’s life, Rep. Bill Herbkersman told the House Ways and Means Committee that he had immediately called together officials from the Department of Mental Health to ‘figure out how we can work to prevent any more psychiatric patients from mistreatment in detention centers.’” read more

6/11/21: SCDHHS SUPPORTS PROVISO AMENDMENT TO EXTEND MEDICAID COVERAGE TO 12 MONTHS POSTPARTUM

"The amendment introduced by Rep. Herbkersman aligns with the Healthy Connections Community Engagement Initiative SCDHHS pursued in 2019. Extending postpartum coverage to one-year postpartum will help improve health outcomes for new mothers as a majority of pregnancy-associated deaths occur more than 60 days after delivery and will remove a disincentive to new mothers returning to work." read more

6/9/21: SC EMPLOYMENT AGENCY PARTNERS WITH TECHNICAL COLLEGES TO HELP UNEMPLOYED WORKERS

Under the program, unemployed workers receiving jobless benefits will have the option of enrolling in a short-term retraining program at a local technical college in lieu of completing a weekly job search requirement. read more

3/29/21: UOFSC MED SCHOOL LEADS NATION FOR GRADS PRACTICING IN UNDERSERVED AREAS

“From meeting the health care needs of South Carolina’s underserved communities to preparing graduates to excel in careers in all corners of the world, these rankings demonstrate the work our faculty, staff and students do each day to improve the lives of people across the state, nation and world” - William Tate, Provost + Executive VP of Academic Affairs. read more

2/17/21: SC HOUSE MEMBERS PASS FETAL HEARTBEAT BILL; ONE VOTE LEFT BEFORE IT GOES TO GOVERNOR

"Legal experts say trying to predict what the Supreme Court will decide on abortion is nearly impossible, especially with new members on the bench. So the journey for this legislation is far from over." read more

12/11/20: BLUFFTON NAMED SAFEST CITY IN SC

"The report used comprehensive data based on violent, property and hate crimes, in addition to factors like household income, average rent and health insurance. They also took into account of natural disaster safety and public health safety." read more

10/1/20: 'Not on our watch.' State leaders vow to save Parris Island

"We are confident, but we are alert and we will be sure that the closure does not happen," McMaster said. read more

9/28/20: S.C. lawmakers approve $40 million in grants for minority, small businesses

"Priority will be given to minority businesses, applicants that did not receive other assistance, such as a Paycheck Protection Program loan or other CARES funds, to businesses with 15 or fewer employees and to businesses that demonstrate the greatest financial need." read more

9/24/20: Board denies controversial plan to put luxury ‘ecotourism’ resort on SC barrier island

"After hearing calls from citizens to reject a proposed resort on an uninhabited Lowcountry barrier island, a Beaufort County zoning board voted unanimously Thursday night to deny the request." read more

8/1/20: Biologists detail improved facilities, services at Waddell Mariculture Center

“Rep. Herbkersman was instrumental in getting $1.2 million to renovate the facility. That enabled us to essentially gut our lab building,” ... “And after that, we were able to secure some other federal funds so that we could redo our entire factory.” - Director Erin Levesque, Waddell Maricultural Center. read more

7/21/20: Gov. McMaster Announces SAFE Grants

Understanding SAFE Grants, a program, developed by Gov. Henry McMaster, to address the educational needs of eligible K5-12 students who attend a participating independent school in SC. read more