What to Consider Before Backing That Bill

Before diving in, it should be noted that this information is all about helping voters understand why staying informed about legislative decisions is important. Legislative decisions affect lives in ways that are often beyond individual control. To have a say in what happens, involvement is key, especially when these decisions are first being introduced. Think of it as getting a head start—if you're tuned into what's being proposed early on, you have a better chance of influencing the outcome before it’s too late. 

As we move closer to legislative session 2025, get ready. Special interest groups, think tanks, lawyer groups, and associations are about to bombard us with their legislative agendas. Oh and political parties too. And guess what? These agendas are mostly filled with requests for more laws—ouch! Most of these agendas are just ways to expand government power, dressed up as 'helping' or 'improving' things. They'll pitch ideas about what needs to change, how laws should evolve, and all these new measures that are supposedly going to 'make life better.' But here's the irony—adding laws is often framed as a way to improve life, yet all it really does is grow government and ramp up police power. So before you jump on board, think about it—how will these changes impact your rights? Not what they promise to do, but what they’ll actually do.

Wouldn't it be great if a legislative agenda focused solely on repealing bad or unconstitutional laws? No new laws, just clearing out the junk—that would be something worth supporting.

The Overwhelming Volume of Laws

Just to put it in perspective, we've already got thousands of laws governing nearly every aspect of our lives. The South Carolina Code of Laws is divided into thousands of sections, with each title and chapter broken down into numerous specific provisions. There are 63 titles, each with multiple chapters, and every chapter contains numerous sections. So yeah, the total number easily reaches into the tens of thousands. And you know what comes with laws? Regulations. There are 139 chapters, each loaded with more rules and guidelines than anyone can realistically keep up with or understand.

Did you know that in South Carolina, most regulations proposed by state agencies have to go through a review by the General Assembly? Here’s how it works: once a regulation is submitted, the legislature has 120 days to approve or disapprove it. If they don’t act in that time, guess what? It automatically becomes law. Now, some regulations—like those complying with federal rules or emergency measures—don’t need this full review. But for the rest, this is the deal. Almost all regulations go through this process, yet they can still get automatically approved if nobody steps in. Think about that—laws just slipping through because no one acted in time. Wild, isn’t it? You can read more about it in SC Title Code 1, Chapter 23, Section Code 1-23-120.

Let's Refocus

Let's get back to what really matters here. So, what do we need to consider when these 'wish list' bill agendas are pitched as the next big solution?

The Good Intention

The first thing to know is the 'good intention' argument that's often used to justify a bill. Sure, the intentions might be well-meaning, but they don't guarantee a positive outcome. What really matters is how a law gets enforced. Will it protect our rights, or will it open the door to government overreach? That depends entirely on how the language is interpreted and applied—not on anyone's good intentions. When a law is challenged or enforced, the courts care about one thing: the exact language and how it fits into the existing legal framework. That includes constitutional provisions and judicial precedents. Sometimes they’ll consider legislative intent—if the wording's fuzzy—but most of the time, it’s all about what's written down. No amount of good intentions can save a poorly drafted law with vague language that leaves room for misinterpretation.

A well-meaning law with badly written language is a ticking time bomb, ready to explode into a mess of unexpected outcomes that end up infringing on our rights.

The "Other States Are Doing It" Argument

Second, let's not be fooled by the 'other states are doing it' argument. Just because something works elsewhere doesn’t mean it'll work here. South Carolina has its own legal framework, its own personality. We can't just copy other states' policies without thinking about our own unique circumstances. Our values, challenges, and priorities are different. And you know what else is unique to South Carolina? The root issues and South Carolinians' awareness of the root issues. Root issues are crucial to understand before proposing any solution. Blindly copying what others do means inheriting not only their supposed solutions but also their problems. Sure, it’s smart to watch what other states are doing—use it as a heads-up for what's coming our way. But using their legislative proposals as 'hey, it worked for them, so it must work for us' is a slippery slope to unexpected outcomes and, ultimately, repeating their mistakes.

Vague Language

Third, keep an eye out for vague or confusing language. How do you know if a bill is vague or confusing? Well, if you can't even make sense of it without a lawyer by your side, that's a red flag. Think about that for a second. Laws are supposed to govern us, and we’re supposed to follow them. But if the average person can’t understand what a law says, how can they possibly know how to follow it? Whenever laws aren’t clear, guess who gets the final say? The courts. And that leaves way too much room for interpretation. And honestly—'interpretation' in the legal system is just a fancy way of saying 'potential disaster.' What sounds harmless today could mean losing your rights tomorrow. So, think twice before you back any measure that leaves too much room for interpretation.

Don't Settle for Blind Trust

Lastly, don’t let anyone convince you to support a bill unless they've thoroughly read it, understand the surrounding regulations, know the current laws that deal with it, and can guarantee there won’t be any negative changes sneaking in through amendments or unexpected outcomes. If they can’t promise that, then they’re just asking for your blind trust—and we’re all a bit too experienced for that.

Trusting someone because it sounded good, only to regret it later. Let's not do that with our rights.

What We Can Do

So what can we do to keep these agendas in check? Simple—start asking better questions. Because the more questions we ask, the better the information we get, and that knowledge is exactly what keeps government power in check.

12 Questions to Ask Before Backing Any Bill

Before you support any bill or constitutional amendment, here’s what you should be asking:

• Have you read it?

• Do you fully understand it?

• Are there already laws that address this issue or harm?

• Have you checked if it conflicts with existing laws?

• Is the bill constitutional, or does it conflict with the Constitution?

• Who benefits from this change?

• What are the potential costs or trade-offs?

• Is it creating new or more power for a government agency?

• How many new regulations will this create?

• Can you explain it to me in simple terms?

• Can you protect the proposed language from amendments?

• Can you promise it won’t get worse through enforcement, court rulings, or future changes?

If the person asking for your support can't answer them convincingly, then you should think twice before offering that support. It’s our job as voters to make sure we aren’t sleepwalking into more government control or, worse, erosion of the rights we hold dear.

The electorate—you and me—is the collective body of citizens qualified to vote. We wield power that’s both critical and necessary. Without our vigilance, laws turn into unchecked tools that grow the government at our expense. 

So, South Carolinians, as we move closer to the 2025 SC legislative session and the agendas roll out, remember these policy proposals—they're invitations for more government control, often disguised as progress. Don’t be swayed by fancy presentations or vague promises of progress. Ask tough questions, demand clear answers, and always prioritize the protection of your rights. After all, no one is going to do that for you better than yourself.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not constitute legal or professional advice. ConservaTruth assumes no liability for any actions taken based on this content. Read more.

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