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Vernon Stephens — Democratic State Senator for South Carolina District 39 (official headshot)

Vernon Stephens Voting Record & Scorecard | National Democrat Platform

SC Senator

District: 39 • Democrat

2024 DEM Alignment:

20.00%

Lifetime Alignment:

19.57%

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Voting Alignment with DEM Platform – by Chapter

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Sen. Vernon Stephens (D-SC-39) earned a 20% National Democrat Platform score for 2024, showing minimal alignment with Democratic Party Platform principles. Vernon Stephens voted on 30 of the 33 substantive bills scored by Dem Platform in 2024. Across 2 years rated, Vernon Stephens's lifetime Dem Platform score averages 20%, with 56 votes recorded across 59 scored bills. Vernon Stephens represents the 39th District in the South Carolina State Senate.

Title

Lawmaker Position

H 3295Senate 20241x

Improving Educational Outcomes by Allowing the State Board of Education to Grant Exemptions from Laws and Regulations that are Barriers to "Competency-Based Education."

With DEMs
This bill allows the State Board of Education to grant waivers to make it easier for school districts and schools "to implement competency-based education." According to the state Department of Education, this involves "tailoring the learning experience to empower students to take ownership of their learning and work towards mastery of world class skills, knowledge, and characteristics." Under the bill, "the State Board of Education may exempt the school from state laws, policies, and regulations that hinder the implementation of certain competency-based practices." In order for an exemption to be granted, certain "core principles" must be met. Support is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 3424 (Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Protecting Children by Requiring Age Verification for Online Pornography Websites.

With DEMs
This bill, known as the "Child Online Safety Act," requires any website that "publishes or distributes material harmful to minors," such as sexual content, to verify that any person accessing the website is 18 or older, if the website "contains a substantial portion of such material." The Senate version of the bill also includes provisions related to offenses involving "a morphed image of an identifiable minor." Support.
H 3563Senate 20241x

Diluting the Tax Base and Shifting Tax Burdens onto other Products and Individuals Through a Special Sales Tax Exemption for Feminine Hygiene Products.

Against DEMs
This bill exempts feminine hygiene products from the state''s sales tax. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with the lowest rates possible for everyone. While well intentioned, this measure ultimately dilutes the tax base and shifts tax burdens onto other products and individuals not favored by government. Instead of merely engaging in tax cronyism, lawmakers should work to make all products more affordable for consumers by significantly cutting government spending.
H 3594Senate 20241x

Strengthening Second Amendment Rights by Enacting "Constitutional Carry" thus Allowing Qualified Adults 18 and Older to Carry a Handgun Without a Special Permit.

Against DEMs
This bill, the "South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2023," authorizes qualifying adults 18 years and older to carry a handgun without having to obtain a special permit from the state - a measure commonly referred to as "constitutional carry". The bill also establishes mandatory minimum sentences for second (5 years) and third (10 years) convictions for unlawful firearm or ammunition possession due to a previous felony conviction. The bill also requires an additional term of up to 3 years for certain weapons offenses "involving a concealable weapon," if the individual does not have a concealed weapon permit. While the bill does contain some negative provisions, such as requiring the State Law Enforcement Division to provide free concealed carry training classes, the measure helps reduce unnecessary barriers for lawful individuals wishing to exercise their Second Amendment rights, barriers which do nothing to deter criminals from engaging in unlawful behavior. Support is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 3690Senate 20241x

Protecting Taxpayers by Prohibiting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Considerations in State Investments.

With DEMs
This bill, the "ESG Pension Protection Act," prohibits the use of politicized ESG (environmental, social, and governance) considerations in public retirement systems investments, which may reduce taxpayer returns. Support is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position as all public investment actions should be based on producing the maximum return and value for taxpayers, not advancing political or social agendas.
H 3951Senate 20241x

Expanding Cronyism Within the Agricultural Industry Through Grants to Property Owners to Conserve Farmland.

Against DEMs
This bill, known as the "Working Agricultural Lands Preservation Act," establishes the Working Farmland Protection Fund for the South Carolina Conservation Bank to provide "grants to eligible trust fund recipients for the purchase of interests in farmland in which a landowner derives at least fifty percent of his income." Grants are awarded to property owners who receive funds from the South Carolina Conservation Bank Trust Fund, and are based on consideration of factors such as the risk of the property being converted to non-agricultural use. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 4087Senate 20241x

Growing Cronyism and Corporate Welfare Through a Tax Exemption for Federal Broadband Grant Funds and Expanding Eligibility for Recycling Facility and Employee Retraining Tax Credits.

Against DEMs
This bill contains several provisions related to corporate tax credits. Most notably, for 2023 through 2028, the bill exempts from income taxes any grants for broadband infrastructure received through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The bill also reduces the required investment to qualify for the recycling facility tax credit from $300 million to $150 million and expands the withholding tax credit for retraining under the "Enterprise Zone Act of 1995." All state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with the lowest rates possible for everyone. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 4624 (Motion to Table Amd. 6)Senate 20241x

Protecting Children by Blocking an Effort to Weaken the Prohibition on Sex-Reassignment Surgeries and Prescriptions for Minors by Allowing "Reversible" Medications.

Against DEMs
The motion tables (defeats) the Davis amendment #6 to a bill that prohibits sex-reassignment procedures or puberty blockers for minors. The amendment provides an exception, allowing "prescribing any medications which is reversible," which the amendment defines as "not permanent or irreversible as accepted by clinical practice guidelines within the context of the patient''s relationship with his physician or healthcare professional." Support.
H 4957Senate 20241x

Strengthening Individual Liberties by Expanding the Ability of College Athletes to Earn Compensation for Their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

With DEMs
This bill amends the state''s college athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) laws to allow schools to "directly or through an agreement with a third party," provide opportunities for athletes "to earn compensation for the use of the intercollegiate athlete''s name, image, or likeness." Additionally, colleges and universities "may grant permission to intercollegiate athletes to use its trademarks and facilities." Support is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through a $40.2 Billion Budget (3.6% Increase) with Countless Provisions that Further Grow the Size and Scope of Government.

Against DEMs
This bill, the FY 2024-2025 "General Appropriations Act," represents a 3.6% increase over the prior year''s budget. Some of the major spending initiatives within the bill include over $74 million in higher education scholarships, assistance, and tuition grants, over $39 million on tourism sale and marketing, and over $24 million for the state film office. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position as the budget is chock-full of wasteful and unnecessary spending initiatives (as mentioned above) which directly violate limited government principles and far exceed the basic and necessary functions of government. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.
H 5100 (Motion to Table Amd. 48)Senate 20241x

Strengthening Safety and Privacy in the Restrooms of Schools by Requiring Usage to be Based on Biological Sex (Male or Female) at Birth.

Against DEMs
This motion tables (defeats) the Climer amendment #48 to Part 1B, Section 1 of the annual appropriations bill. The amendment requires public schools with a multi-person restroom or changing facility to designate separate facilities based on biological sex at birth. The amendment also prohibits students of the opposite biological sex at birth from sharing a hotel room or multi-person restroom or changing facility. Any school district that violates these requirements is fined 25% of the district''s operational support funds in the act. Oppose.
H 5100 (Motion to Table Amd. 8)Senate 20241x

Protecting Children by Conditioning State Funds on County Libraries Restricting Access to Sexual Content by Minors.

Against DEMs
The motion tables (defeats) the Kimbrell, Garrett, and Rice amendment #8 to Part 1B, Section 27 of the annual appropriations bill. The amendment requires county libraries, as a condition of receiving state funds, to certify that they "do not offer any books or materials that appeal to the prurient interest of children under the age of seventeen in children''s, youth, or teen book sections of libraries and are only made available with explicit parental consent." Oppose.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 27 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $25 Million Appropriation (Over 10% Increase) to the State Library.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $25 million (over 10% increase) to the State Library. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 28 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $11 Million Appropriation (Over 9% Increase) to the Arts Commission.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $11 million (over 9% increase) to the Arts Commission. Providing funding for the arts is not a core nor necessary function of the government, rather a role of the private sector through foundations and philanthropy. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 33 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $11 Billion Appropriation (Over $294 Million Increase) to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $11 billion (over $294 million increase) to the Department of Health and Human Services. Included in this amount are multiple wasteful provisions and programs, including rural healthcare and health intervention programs. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 42 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $258 Million Appropriation to the Housing Finance and Development Authority.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $258 million (less than 0.5% decrease) to the Housing Finance and Development Authority. Included in this amount is over $19 million for rental assistance, over $1.3 million for housing credits, and over $5.9 million for homeownership programs including mortgage production and servicing. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 49 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Wasteful and Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $151 Million Appropriation (Over 8% Increase) to the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $151 million (over 8% increase) to the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism for purposes such as tourism sales and marketing and the state film office. Promoting tourism is not a core nor necessary function of government. The free-market and private industry - not central planning by government bureaucrats - is many times more effective in attracting visitors to the state and growing the economy. Additionally, the state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 50 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $142 Million Appropriation (Over 8% Increase) to the Department of Commerce.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $142 million (over 8% increase) to the Department of Commerce for purposes such as various economic development programs. The free market - not central planning schemes by bureaucrats - is the best mechanism to direct investment to the most promising initiatives and regions of the state. Additionally, the state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 51 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Unnecessary Appropriation of Over $1 Million to the Jobs-Economic Development Authority.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $1 million to the Jobs-Economic Development Authority, a "quasi-public instrument" with a purpose of "assisting in the financing of public and private projects." Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 55 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $200 Million Appropriation (Over 10% Increase) to the Department of Environmental Services.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $200 million (over 10% increase) to the Department of Environmental Services. Included in this amount is over $11 million for coastal resource improvement, over $12 million for air quality improvement, and over $7 million for laboratory management. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 71 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Unnecessary Appropriation of Over $3 Million (Over 8% Increase) to the Commission on Minority Affairs.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $3 million (over 8% increase) to the Commission on Minority Affairs, which "identifies and examines emerging issues and trends by providing constructive solutions and approaches to support the policy and socio-economic development of ethnic minority communities." This entity serves as an unnecessary bureaucracy. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 8 - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $42 Million Appropriation (Over 26% Increase) to the Educational Television Commission.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $42 million (over 26% increase) to the Educational Television Commission. SCETV has an extensive programming schedule with multiple channels. South Carolina ETV is an unnecessary entity which merely competes with the private sector. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 5100 (Parts 1A and 1B, Section 92D - Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $155 Million Appropriation (Over 50% Increase) to the Office of Resilience.

Against DEMs
This section of the annual appropriations bill provides over $161 million (over 50% increase) to the Office of Resilience, which "exists to increase resilience to disasters and reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of loss of life, injury, damage to and loss of property, and suffering and hardship, by lessening the impact of future disasters." Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
HB 5183Senate 20241x

Reducing Barriers to Employment for Medical Assistants and Alleviating Healthcare Staffing Shortages by Allowing Unlicensed Assistive Personnel to Perform a Greater Range of Tasks.

With DEMs
This bill allows physicians and physician assistants to delegate a greater range of tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel, such as "point of care testing and screening tests," and "performing nonclinical tasks via telemedicine." This regulatory reform helps reduce employment barriers for medical assistants, alleviate healthcare staffing shortages, and provide patients more timely and attentive care.
Nomination of James Smith for Circuit Judge (Motion to Recommit)Senate 20241x

Blocking the Confirmation of a Circuit Judge with a History of Supporting Government Policies Antithetical to Limited Government Principles.

Against DEMs
This motion recommits (blocks) the nomination of James Smith for Circuit Judge back to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Former Rep. James Smith, the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2018, previously voiced support for Medicare for All, supported Medicaid expansion, and opposed offshore oil drilling. Former Rep. Smith''s record of policy positions make him unlikely to uphold limited government principles. Support is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
S 1021 (Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Expanding Cronyism and Government Central Planning Through a New Tax Credit for Railroad Companies and Increasing the Maximum Annual Tax Credit for Expenses Under the "Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act".

Against DEMs
This bill increases the maximum annual amount of the tax credit under the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act from $500,000 to $700,000 per site, per taxpayer. This bill further incentivizes poor property maintenance and socializes the costs onto taxpayers. Instead of growing government central planning, lawmakers should work to incentivize the private sector to rehabilitate properties by reducing excessive building regulations, reforming zoning laws, and reducing crime in communities. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
S 1031Senate 20241x

Expanding Barriers to Employment by More than Doubling Fees for Currency Exchange and Money Transmission Licenses and Empowering the Attorney General to Impose New Fees.

Against DEMs
This bill renames the "South Carolina Anti-Money Laundering Act" to the "South Carolina Uniform Money ServicesAct" and amends several provisions. Included in the bill are provisions that increase the license fee and renewal fee for money transmission licenses and currency exchange licenses from $750 to $1,600. Additionally, the bill requires currency exchange licenses to be renewed annually (currently every 2 years), the same as currency exchange licenses. Additionally, the bill allows the Attorney General to "establish reasonable fees for filings required or permitted by regulation or order adopted pursuant to this chapter, and other miscellaneous filings for which no fees are otherwise specified by law" and "retain all fees, assessments, and fines received under this chapter for the administration of this chapter." Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
S 912Senate 20241x

Growing Government Bureaucracy and Paving the Way for Additional Spending on Economic Development and Workforce Programs.

Against DEMs
This resolution, the "SC Nexus Plan for Global Leadership in Advanced Resilient Energy," establishes the SC Nexus office in the Department of Commerce "to take such actions necessary for" goals such as "acceleration of high-quality job growth for a diverse workforce, with multiple education and training pathways through South Carolina''s broad education ecosystem." Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
SB 858Senate 20241x

Expanding Access to Healthcare by Allowing Hospitals to Provide In-Home Care.

With DEMs
This bill allows hospitals to provide "acute hospital care at-home programs and services," which provides treatment to individuals in their homes through remote patient monitoring. The bill exempts these "acute hospital care at-home programs and services" from the state''s certificate of need requirements and provides that such patients do not count towards the hospital''s capacity. Support is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
SB 915 (Senate Version)Senate 20241x

Granting Exorbitant Authority to an Unelected "Health Czar" by Merging Six Separate Departments to Establish the Executive Office of Health and Policy.

Against DEMs
This bill, known as the "Health Czar" bill, establishes the Executive Office of Health and Policy, to be headed by the Secretary of Health and Policy, who is appointed by the Governor. The new office consolidates the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Mental Health, and the Department on Aging. The Secretary is directed to "develop a cohesive, coordinated, and comprehensive State Health Plan for public health services provided by the component departments housed within the office" and "establish and appoint members to a health planning advisory committee to provide advice in the development of the plan." While the bill contains positive provisions consolidating multiple government departments, this measure provides far too much authority to an unelected bureaucrat to determine health policies of the state. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
H 4624Senate 20241x

Protecting Children Under 18 from Sex-Reassignment Surgeries and Prescriptions with Irreversible Implications Until they are Old Enough to Consent.

Neutral
This bill prohibits children under 18 years of age from receiving sex-reassignment procedures or puberty blockers until they reach the age of consent and prohibits Medicaid (government-provided healthcare) from providing coverage for such procedures for minors. The bill also prohibits the use of public funds for gender transition procedures. Support.
H 5100 (Motion to Table Amd. 12)Senate 20241x

Slightly Reducing Overreaching Regulations by Suspending the Requirement that On-Premises Alcoholic Beverage Consumption Licensees Maintain at least $1 Million in Insurance Coverage.

Neutral
This motion tables (defeats) the Martin amendment #12 to Part 1B, Section 109 of the annual appropriations bill. The amendment suspends the requirement that on-premises alcoholic beverage consumption licensees that remain open after 5pm have an insurance policy of at least $1 million. Oppose is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.
S 1126Senate 20241x

Strengthening Election Integrity by Ensuring that Only U.S. Citizens May Vote.

Neutral
This resolution amends the state Constitution to provide that only U.S. citizens may vote. Only U.S. Citizens - not foreign nationals - should be the ones deciding who to have govern them. Support is The Club For Growth Foundation''s position.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sen. Vernon Stephens's voting record?

Sen. Vernon Stephens (D-SC-39) earned a 20% National Democrat Platform score for 2024, showing minimal alignment with Democratic Party Platform principles. Vernon Stephens voted on 30 of the 33 substantive bills scored by Dem Platform in 2024. Across 2 years rated, Vernon Stephens's lifetime Dem Platform score averages 20%, with 56 votes recorded across 59 scored bills. Vernon Stephens represents the 39th District in the South Carolina State Senate.

How aligned is Vernon Stephens with Democratic Party Platform principles?

Vernon Stephens earned a 20% National Democrat Platform score in 2024, showing minimal alignment with Democratic Party Platform principles.

What is Vernon Stephens's Dem Platform score?

Vernon Stephens has a 20% Dem Platform score for 2024. Across 2 years rated, Vernon Stephens's lifetime average is 20%.

Where does Vernon Stephens serve?

Sen. Vernon Stephens (D-SC-39) represents the 39th District in the South Carolina State Senate as a Democrat.

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