SC lawmakers pass bill to address liquor liability crisis

SC lawmakers pass bill to address skyrocketing insurance costs on bars, restaurants

TO GO. WE’VE GOT A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE’RE STARTING WITH OUR ISABELLE MARK LIVE AT THE BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA IN DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE. ISABELLE. WHAT SAFETY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE FOR THIS WEEK’S SEC WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT? HEY, DESTINEE. GOOD MORNING. THE GREENVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PREPPING FOR THIS MONTHS IN ADVANCE BY STAFFING PEOPLE A COUPLE MONTHS OUT. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WANT TO WARN YOU ALL ABOUT SOME ROAD CLOSURES THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR COMMUTE IN THE COMING DAYS. THERE’S ONE ROAD CLOSURE ALFRED STREET, FROM NORTH MAIN STREET TO NORTH CHURCH STREET IS CLOSED OFF TO TRAFFIC NOW AS TOURNAMENT TRAFFIC INCREASES. GREENVILLE POLICE URGE YOU TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY, AND THEY SAY YOU CAN USE ACADEMY STREET TO ACCESS INTERSTATE 385. OFFICIALS SAY THERE’S ABOUT 20 OFFICERS STATIONED OUTSIDE OF THE ARENA TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE THIS WEEK, BUT THERE’S ALSO OFFICERS IN THE CONCOURSE AND COURTSIDE. ALSO, MORE BARRIERS TO PREVENT ANY VEHICLES FROM ACCESSING AREAS WITH HIGH FOOT TRAFFIC. NOW, THE FIRST GAME WILL TIP OFF THIS MORNING AT 11 A.M., AND THEN THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS WILL HAVE THEIR FIRST GAME TOMORROW. TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE FOR. REPORTING LIVE IN GREENVILLE, ISABELLE MARAK. WYFF NEWS FOUR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE’RE STILL WAITING TO LEARN THE NAME OF A SHOOTING VICTIM IN CLINTON. POLICE WERE CALLED TO FLORENCE STREET JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT TUESDAY FOR SEVERAL GUNSHOTS. THEY SAY THEY FOUND A VICTIM LYING IN THE ROADWAY WHO LATER DIED. 34 YEAR OLD VINCENT VINER WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER. HE WAS TAKEN TO JOHNSON DETENTION CENTER. STAY WITH US AS WE WORK TO LEARN MORE. OCONEE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY FIVE PEOPLE ARE FACING CHARGES AFTER THE SEARCH FOR A HOMICIDE. SUSPECT IN ANDERSON COUNTY. THE OCONEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THE ARREST HAPPENED DURING A SEARCH WARRANT IN SEVERAL TRAFFIC STOPS. FIVE MEN WERE ARRESTED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHARGES, AND SOME ARE RELATED TO DRUG POSSESSION. ALL FIVE HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL ON BOND. OCONEE COUNTY DEPUTIES WERE HELPING SEARCH FOR DESHAWN WILSON, WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR MURDER. HE’S REMAINING IN JAIL IN ANDERSON COUNTY WITHOUT BOND. THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT HAS REJECTED THE LIKELY FINAL APPEAL FOR BRAD SIGMON AHEAD OF HIS EXECUTION TOMORROW. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. SIGMON WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WILLIAM AND GLADYS LARKIN. THEIR TAYLOR’S HOME BACK IN APRIL OF 2001 WITH A BASEBALL BAT. HE’S BEEN ON DEATH ROW FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. GREENVILLE COUNTY CORONER MIKE ELLIS CALLED IT A BRUTAL AND TRAGIC CRIME SCENE, SAYING THERE WAS BLOOD VISIBLE AND BOTH VICTIMS COULD BE SEEN AS THEY WALKED IN THE HOUSE. WE WERE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE HOUSE WAS IN DISARRAY. IT APPEARED THAT FANS HAD EITHER BEEN TAKEN OFF THE HOOK OR HAD CAME OFF THE HOOK. IT APPEARS THAT THEY HAD BEEN A STRUGGLE. STEGMAN’S ATTORNEYS SAY HE PICKED THE FIRING SQUAD OVER LETHAL INJECTION DUE TO CONCERNS OVER THE DRUGS BEING USED. IF STICKMAN’S EXECUTION HAPPENS, HE WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON TO DIE BY FIRING SQUAD IN THE U-S IN 15 YEARS. IT’S 647 AND BOTH NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN AND U.S. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY BROOKE ROLLINS WILL BE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY. STEIN IS VISITING YANCEY COUNTY TO MEET WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL WORKING ON HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY. MEANWHILE, SECRETARY ROLLINS WILL SURVEY BOTH HURRICANE AND WILDFIRE DAMAGE. SHE’LL MEET WITH U.S. FOREST SERVICE MEMBERS IN ASHEVILLE. OFFICIALS SAY SIGNIFICANT DEBRIS FROM HELENE HAS MADE MUCH OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VULNERABLE TO MORE WILDFIRES THIS SPRING. THE CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SET THE DATES FOR THE TWO REMAINING MAKEUP DAYS FOR STUDENTS. THOSE WILL BE SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND, WHICH WILL BE AN E-LEARNING DAY, AND FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING. BECAUSE THE MARCH MAKEUP DAY IS CLOSE. SCHOOL OFFICIALS REALIZE MANY STUDENTS AND STAFF ALREADY HAVE PLANS FOR THAT DAY. THE DISTRICT ASKED TEACHERS TO PROVIDE LESSONS THAT CAN BE MADE UP ANYTIME WITHIN NEXT WEEK. THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCY, OR EXCUSE ME, EFFICIENCY OR DODGE IS ANNOUNCING MORE FEDERAL AGENCY CUTS WHILE ALSO ATTEMPTING TO REHIRE OTHER WORKERS. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CUTTING MORE THAN 80,000 JOBS. THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND TRYING TO BRING BACK ABOUT 180 PEOPLE WHO WERE LAID OFF FROM THE CDC. THE CUTS AT THE VA ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT MILLIONS OF VETERANS THAT RELY ON ITS HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SERVICES. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE CUTS ARE MEANT FOR EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY, AND WILL NOT IMPACT TIMELY, QUALITY CARE THAT EXPERIENCED RECORD HIGH LEVELS LAST YEAR. ALL RIGHT, LET’S TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE. BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE HAPPENING ON THAT GREEN HILTON GREENVILLE SKYCAM COLD AND DRY AND WINDY AS YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING. 38 DEGREES HERE IN TOWN. WEST WIND COMING IN AT 14MPH. MAKES IT FEEL MORE LIKE 30 DEGREES. THAT WIND IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. TODAY, 10 TO 15MPH IN THE UPSTATE. TEMPERATURES UPPER 30S TO MID 30S IN THE UPSTATE. AS YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING, UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S UP TOWARDS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WHERE THERE’S A COUPLE LITTLE LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES HAPPENING IN PARTS OF THE MOUNTAINS, BUT NOT REALLY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT UP AND OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND INTO MOST OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. JUST A REALLY ALONG THE STATE LINE WITH TENNESSEE STAYING COLD AND DRY THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY TODAY. HERE’S WHAT THAT FORECAST LOOKS LIKE. HOUR BY HOUR. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM UP, BUT NOT BY MUCH UP TO THE LOW 50S BY NOON AND INTO THE MID 50S FOR THOSE DAYTIME HIGHS TODAY. AND AGAIN, STILL PRETTY WINDY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. EVEN COLDER AND EVEN WINDIER WITH WINDS UP TO AROUND 25MPH FOR THOSE GUSTS AT TIMES SOMETIMES 30MPH, AND TEMPERATURES TOPPING OUT IN THE LOW TO MID 40S. A FINAL CHECK ON YOUR FOUR-DAY PLUS FOR YOU COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, GRIFFIN, THANK YOU. IT’S 6.49. AND HERE’S A LIVE LOOK AT I-85 SOUTH AT HIGHWAY 14 IN SPARTANBURG. WELL, I’M STILL WAKING UP TO GRIFFIN, SPARTANBURG COUNTY. A CLEAR COMMUTE FOR YOU. ALSO, YOUR TRAVEL TIMES LOOK GREAT. I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY SHOULD TAKE YOU 12 MINUTES. AIRPORT TO WATERFORD. YOU’RE LOOKING AT AN EIGHT MINUTE COMMUTE AND THEN FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN 13. IT IS SPRING BREAK SEASON WHERE MANY AMERICANS BOOK GETAWAYS TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES. BUT IF YOU HAVEN’T BOOKED ANYTHING YET, THERE IS STILL TIME. HERE’S JENN SULLIVAN WITH SOME WAYS TO SCORE SOME SAVINGS. ARE YOU DREAMING OF WHITE SANDY BEACHES? IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SNAG SOME SPRING BREAK DEALS. I’M SEEING SOME REALLY INTERESTINGLY LOW AIRFARES. EXPEDIA TRAVEL EXPERT MELANIE FISH SAYS SHE’S SEEING SOME FLIGHTS FOR AS MUCH AS 40% LOWER THAN USUAL FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. PLACES LIKE NEW YORK TO PUERTO RICO, LA TO HONOLULU, ATLANTA TO ORLANDO. ORLANDO BEING A TOP SPRING BREAK DESTINATION, 70% LOWER THAN TYPICAL, SHE SAYS THE BEST WAY TO SAVE IS TO BUNDLE YOUR FLIGHT AND HOTEL. THAT’S THE WAY TO SAVE 30% OR EVEN MORE ON YOUR TRIP. HERE’S THE CATCH YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR DATES TO SCORE THE BEST SAVINGS. THURSDAY FLIGHTS, ON AVERAGE, ARE ABOUT 17% CHEAPER THAN FLYING ON PEAK DAYS OF THE WEEK. ANOTHER TIP FISH SAYS PRICES TYPICALLY DIP THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL. BUT WHAT IF YOU’RE BEHOLDEN TO THE SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR? MAYBE CONSIDER A LITTLE ROAD TRIP OR EVEN A STAYCATION? AND THAT WAS JEN SULLIVAN REPORTING. MARCH’S FULL MOON IS CALLED THE WORM MOON, AND IT’S EXTRA SPECIAL BECAUSE IT WILL BE A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE, THE FIRST IN NEARLY THREE YEARS TO BE VISIBLE ACROSS THE U.S. NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH. THAT’S PI DAY, TOO, RIGHT? YEAH. MARCH 14TH. THE MOON WILL LOOK LIKE A STRIKING RED COLOR. A TOTAL ECLIPSE HAPPENS WHEN THE MOON IS FULL AND ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE EARTH AND SUN. UNLIKE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE. EXCUSE ME? SOLAR ECLIPSE. THIS CELESTIAL EVENT DOESN’T REQUIRE SPECIAL EYEWEAR. MEANWHILE, YOU’LL WANT TO GO TO BED EARLIER TONIGHT TO PREPARE YOUR BODY TO SPRING FORWARD AN HOUR SUNDAY MORNING FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME TO FEEL LESS OF AN IMPACT FROM THE CHANGE, EXPERTS SAY. TO SET YOUR ALARM BACK 15 MINUTES EACH NIGHT BEFORE, AVOID CAFFEINE AFTER MIDDAY. TRY TO EXERCISE IN THE MORNING BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU ENERGY. AND DOCTORS SAY EXTENDED NAPS DO NOT HELP, S

SC lawmakers pass bill to address skyrocketing insurance costs on bars, restaurants

The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill to address skyrocketing insurance costs that have caused bars, restaurants, breweries, and venues across the state to close.Many businesses have been at risk of closure due to the law requiring businesses that serve alcohol to have a $1 million liability insurance policy.More News: NWS confirms tornado near high school among severe weather outbreakOn Thursday, lawmakers passed H.3497, a targeted bill to address rising costs for liquor liability insurance. This legislation is aimed to deliver immediate relief while ensuring accountability and responsibility in alcohol service.”The House Republican Caucus promised to tackle the soaring costs of insurance and the lack of competition in the market,” said Majority Leader Davey Hiott. “This bill is a key part of our Pillars for Progress agenda because our small businesses cannot afford to be held hostage by out-of-control insurance costs for another year, today we are delivering on that promise. Each of us has heard from our constituents—we can’t wait any longer to act.”More News: Two employees hospitalized after possibly being shocked at Upstate substationThe bill must be passed by the state senate before becoming law.”A similar bill passed the House last year, but the Senate refused to take it up,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Weston Newton.This legislation aims to address the liquor liability crisis by:Ending joint and several liability to prevent responsible businesses from being sued for incidents beyond their control. Expanding liquor liability insurance options, allowing more competition to lower costs.Creating a Liquor Liability Risk Mitigation Program, providing clear incentives for responsible alcohol service and lowering premiums for businesses that implement safety measures.Mandating alcohol server training, ensuring all alcohol servers and managers complete state-approved training to serve responsibly and recognize intoxication.Strengthening enforcement to prevent businesses from knowingly selling alcohol to intoxicated patronsMore News: Deputies search for suspect following armed robbery at Upstate supermarketThe high costs for liquor liability insurance has been blamed directly for the closure of several businesses across the Upstate, including:Longtime Greenville, South Carolina, bar closing down due to liquor liability lawPopular downtown Greenville, South Carolina, music venue closes; owner explains whyAnother Greenville, South Carolina, establishment closes due to liquor liability lawAnother Greenville, South Carolina, bar announces closure due to rising costs, liquor liability insuranceAnother SC brewery, restaurant will close due to liquor liability insurance costs

COLUMBIA, S.C. —

The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill to address skyrocketing insurance costs that have caused bars, restaurants, breweries, and venues across the state to close.

Many businesses have been at risk of closure due to the law requiring businesses that serve alcohol to have a $1 million liability insurance policy.

More News: NWS confirms tornado near high school among severe weather outbreak

On Thursday, lawmakers passed H.3497, a targeted bill to address rising costs for liquor liability insurance. This legislation is aimed to deliver immediate relief while ensuring accountability and responsibility in alcohol service.

“The House Republican Caucus promised to tackle the soaring costs of insurance and the lack of competition in the market,” said Majority Leader Davey Hiott. “This bill is a key part of our Pillars for Progress agenda because our small businesses cannot afford to be held hostage by out-of-control insurance costs for another year, today we are delivering on that promise. Each of us has heard from our constituents—we can’t wait any longer to act.”

More News: Two employees hospitalized after possibly being shocked at Upstate substation

The bill must be passed by the state senate before becoming law.

“A similar bill passed the House last year, but the Senate refused to take it up,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Weston Newton.

This legislation aims to address the liquor liability crisis by:

  • Ending joint and several liability to prevent responsible businesses from being sued for incidents beyond their control.
  • Expanding liquor liability insurance options, allowing more competition to lower costs.
  • Creating a Liquor Liability Risk Mitigation Program, providing clear incentives for responsible alcohol service and lowering premiums for businesses that implement safety measures.
  • Mandating alcohol server training, ensuring all alcohol servers and managers complete state-approved training to serve responsibly and recognize intoxication.
  • Strengthening enforcement to prevent businesses from knowingly selling alcohol to intoxicated patrons

More News: Deputies search for suspect following armed robbery at Upstate supermarket

The high costs for liquor liability insurance has been blamed directly for the closure of several businesses across the Upstate, including:

  • Longtime Greenville, South Carolina, bar closing down due to liquor liability law
  • Popular downtown Greenville, South Carolina, music venue closes; owner explains why
  • Another Greenville, South Carolina, establishment closes due to liquor liability law
  • Another Greenville, South Carolina, bar announces closure due to rising costs, liquor liability insurance
  • Another SC brewery, restaurant will close due to liquor liability insurance costs

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