LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
During his time in the House, Rep. Tallon has been the primary sponsor on more than 75 general bills and resolutions. To review all of those pieces of legislation and Tallon’s voting record, click here.
Creating the Blue Alert Program
In 2012, Rep. Eddie Tallon sponsored legislation to establish a Blue Alert Program designed to assist in apprehending a suspect alleged to have killed, seriously injured or abducted a law enforcement officer. Signed into law by the governor in 2012, the legislation created a method of disseminating information regarding the suspect, reducing his or her ability to flee the area. As part of the program, critical information is shared through the S.C. Department of Transportation’s electronic traffic signage system.
For more on this legislation, click here.
Limiting access to firearms for those deemed mentally defective
Following a near tragic shooting outside Ashley Hall in Charleston by a woman with a history of mental illness, Rep. Tallon sponsored House Bill 3560 to close a loophole in the criminal background check system. The law, effective August 2013, mandates that those adjudicated mentally defective, involuntarily committed to a mental institution by a judge, or found insane or unfit to stand trial be reported to the State Law Enforcement Division for addition to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
For more on this legislation, click here.
Regulating the sale of precious metals
Becoming effective in June 2014, this law further regulated the sale of precious metals and gems by requiring dealers to obtain a permit from their local law enforcement agency. The legislation also required dealers to operate from a permanent place of business, meaning no dealer can operate on public property, from a vehicle, flea market, residential home or hotel room, for example.
For more on this legislation, click here.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Law Enforcement Act
Becoming effective in June 2015, this law established procedures for the use of out-of-state officers who are deployed to South Carolina in accordance with the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The use of out-of-state law enforcement personnel pursuant to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact is designed solely for situations when South Carolina's law enforcement resources have been exhausted or will be exhausted subsequent to a declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the Governor of the State of South Carolina.
For more on this legislation, click here.
Adjusting bond appearances, validity and relief of surety
Taking effect in early 2012, this legislation changed the law relating to appearance bonds, so as to provide that an appearance bond is valid for a certain time period in circuit and magistrate or municipal courts under certain circumstances and to provide a procedure to relieve the surety of liability when the time period has run.
For more on the legislation, click here.
Allowing prospective employers to report positive drug tests of those on unemployment
This legislation sought to allow prospective employers to confidentially notify the Department of Employment and Workforce a prospective employee fails a drug test, if the prospective employee is receiving state unemployment benefits. Under the proposal, the state would have suspended those benefits until the person successfully completed a drug treatment program and passed a drug test. The measure passed the House, but stalled in the Senate.
For more on the legislation, click here.
Using a concealed weapon permit at the polls
This legislation sought to allow a resident to use a concealed weapon permit as a valid form of identification when at voting locations. Though the measure passed the House and did not pass the Senate, the S.C. Attorney General’s Office ultimately issued a ruling that votes could use a CWP permit as identification while voting.
For more on the legislation, click here.
Requiring mopeds to be classified as motor vehicles
This legislation proposed classifying a moped as a motor vehicle, allowing riders of those vehicles to be subject to DUI laws. This measure was later included in larger comprehensive, DUI reform legislation.
For more on the legislation, click here.
A law providing for escheatment to the state of unclaimed U.S. Savings Bonds
This act amends the law to provide for escheatment to the state of unclaimed U.S. savings bonds to provide for judicial determination of escheatment, to provide for deposit of the proceeds of escheatment and reimbursement to the administration for the costs of escheatment, and by adding a section to provide that a person claiming an interest in an U.S. savings bond may file a claim with the administrator who is administering the uniform unclaimed property act and to provide for limitations on such claims.
For more on the legislation, click here.
Providing that manufacturers of wine, beer may offer coupons and rebates electronically
This act amended the S.C. Code of Laws to provide that a manufacturer of wine, vintner, winery, an importer, or retailer may offer or sponsor certain coupons or rebates to a consumer for the purchase of wine, to provide that a wholesaler is prohibited from participating in the procurement, redemption, or other costs associated for any coupon or rebate for wine, and to provide that a winery, wine manufacturer, vintner, importer, or wholesaler is prohibited from offering paper instant redeemable coupons and scanback coupons for wine in this state, and to provide that a manufacturer, brewer, importer, or retailer may offer or sponsor certain coupons and rebates to a consumer for the purchase of beer, to provide that a wholesaler is prohibited from participating in the procurement, redemption, or other costs associated for any coupon or rebate for beer, and to provide that a beer manufacturer or wholesaler is prohibited from offering paper instant redeemable coupons and scanback coupons for beer.
For more on this legislation, click here.
Creating a Civil Service Commission of the City of Spartanburg
This law, effective in 2017, created a Civil Service Commission of the City of Spartanburg for its police and fire departments.
For more on this legislation, click here.