With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, summer is officially over. Football has begun and our local schools are back. The Senate is unlikely to return until December as we await the elections in November.

This is a shortened version of the Newsletter as I only discuss a few topics – early voting, Silfab and a new federal law impacting SC businesses. The goal of this Newsletter is to keep you updated on what is happening in Columbia. If you have any questions or would like me to discuss a topic, please let me know.

Calling All Artists:

For the past three years I have hung art in the lobby of my Senate office from artists in the district. I would like to add to that display. If you are an artist (age 5 to 100+) who has art suitable for framing and/or hanging, and would like to donate your art for display, please let me know. I would love to have your art hanging in my office.

Early Voting – October 21 to November 2:

The November elections are just around the corner. Early voting begins on October 21 and ends November 2. If you live in District 16 the easiest places to vote early in Lancaster County are: (1) the County Administration Office (101 N. Main St, Lancaster); (2) Indian Land Annex (8286 Charlotte Hwy, Indian Land; and (3) Del Webb Library (7641 Charlotte Hwy, Indian Land).

If you live in District 16 in York County the easiest places to vote early are (1) Carolinas Cornerstone Church (1790 Gardendale Rd, Fort Mill); and (2) Fort Mill Community Center (1011 Talbot Dr, Fort Mill).

Early voting polls are open from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday – Saturday. They are closed on Sunday. The last day to register to vote for the fall election is October 4th. Our great republic cannot stand without voter participation. Be a part of the process and go vote.

District 16 Senate Race:

As the Republican incumbent, I am seeking reelection to Senate District 16. I am honored to have served the past four years and ask for your vote. One person has filed to run against me this fall. With an election quickly approaching and opposition on the ballot, I had several people ask about donating to my campaign. If you would like to donate to my Senate campaign fund, please click HERE. Donations can be accepted in any amount up to $1,000 per donor per election cycle. If you are interested in having a yard sign, please send me an EMAIL with your address and one will be delivered. Thank you for your support.

Silfab in Fort Mill:

I wrote about this topic last June in one of my newsletters. This past week Congressman Ralph Norman held a forum to allow the public to ask questions to the SC Emergency Management Department (SCEMD) and the SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The Department of Environmental Services (DES) gave a brief presentation but did not answer questions. There is a lot of information floating around on this topic – some true, some not.

While attending the forum it became abundantly clear that members of the public are scared, and need more answers. If you have a question that you would like me to submit to any state agency, please send it in writing to me before September 10th. I will submit all questions and ask the agency to respond publicly. I cannot guarantee that you will like the answer, but I can assist in getting it for you. To submit a question click HERE.

As for questions about zoning, no state agency can answer them. Zoning and land use are left to local officials (county and municipality). The state does not play a role in determining whether a business fits a zoning classification. From a personal standpoint, I have looked at this and do not believe that Silfab fits light industrial. That being said, I cannot overrule or force the county to concur with my belief. A county official, not the Council, made a determination that Silfab’s processes complied with light industrial. That determination may have created a vested right – and based on what I have been told, I believe it did – which makes this a difficult decision to reverse.

I know that York County and Silfab are moving towards litigation over the BZA determination that this project was not light industrial. It seems clear that the courts will have to determine how this proceeds. In the interim, I will continue to talk with DES officials to insure that they are requiring Silfab to comply with all existing laws and regulations. I will keep you updated.

Small Business Alert – Federal Law Requirement

Disclosure of “Beneficial Owner”:

Under a federal law (this is not a state law or requirement) passed in 2021 called the “Corporate Transparency Act,” as of January 1, 2024, many companies doing business in the United States must report information about their beneficial owner(s) – the individuals who own or control the company – to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). There is a deadline for filing which is outlined below in more detail.

Here are key points that a small business owner should know:

• What Entities Must Report?- A company must report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN if it is:    

• a corporation, a limited liability company (LLC), or was otherwise created in the United States by filing a document with a secretary of state or any similar office under the law of a state or Indian tribe; or
• a foreign company that was registered to do business in any U.S. state or Indian tribe by such a filing.

• Exempt Entities – Twenty-three types of entities are exempt from the beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, including publicly traded companies meeting specified requirements, many nonprofits, and certain large companies that employ more than 20 full-time employees and generate more than $5 million in revenue. More information on the exempt entities can be found HERE;

• Deadline to File – Companies that are required to comply must file their initial reports by the following deadlines:

• Existing companies: Reporting companies created or registered to do business in the United States before January 1, 2024, must file by January 1, 2025.

• Newly created or registered companies: Reporting companies created or registered to do business in the United States on or after January 1, 2024 have 90 calendar days to file after receiving actual or public notice that their company’s creation or registration is effective;

• Penalties for Not Filing- Companies that willfully violate beneficial ownership reporting requirements may be subject to civil penalties of up to $591 for each day that the violation continues, as well as criminal penalties of up to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. Potential violations include willfully failing to file a beneficial ownership information report, willfully filing false beneficial ownership information, or willfully failing to correct or update previously reported beneficial ownership information;

• No Charge to File – According to FinCEN, filing is simple, secure, and free of charge. Beneficial ownership information reporting is not an annual requirement. A report only needs to be submitted once, unless the filer needs to update or correct information;

Need More Info? — More information on the new beneficial ownership reporting requirement can be found HERE.

Visit the Statehouse:

If you are interested in visiting the Statehouse, please contact my office in Columbia. We will assist you in setting up a tour (for groups of all sizes). Whenever possible, I join the tour and try to give a more in-depth view of the Senate Chambers. If you haven’t been to Columbia and seen the Capitol, you should. It is a beautiful building, and it is well worth the time. All tours are free. If you are interested, just call my office at 803-212-6008 and we will assist you in scheduling a tour.

Unclaimed Property – Money for You?:

The State Treasurer’s Office maintains a link for residents to search for unclaimed property. Examples of unclaimed property include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks (including paychecks), unclaimed insurance proceeds, forgotten utility deposits, uncashed dividend checks, and unexchanged shares of stock. To learn more, go HERE .

Palmetto Heroes Program – Home Buying Assistance:

The Palmetto Heroes home buyers program from the state housing finance authority offers home buying assistance to workers in these professions — educators, first responders, and community service personnel in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, firefighting, emergency medical services and health care, as well as active duty military, members of the SC Army National Guard, SC Air National Guard and Veterans of the US Armed Forces. To learn more, go HERE and HERE .

Thank you for believing in me and allowing me to represent District 16 in Columbia. Again, if you have any questions, or you hear something and have a question, give me a call. My personal cell number is 803-984-0126.

Thank you again for everything,

Michael Johnson