Newly filed bills focus coronavirus issues in South Carolina State lawmakers have filed several coronavirus bills, including a possible mask mandate, ahead of the 2021 Legislative Session. Author: Julia Kauffman (WLTX) Updated: 11:15 PM EST December 16, 2020 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The pandemic has affected South Carolina in many ways: From businesses to schools, and of course healthcare. That’s why several state lawmakers have filed bills to address those issues. For example, Senator Shane Massey recently proposed the “South Carolina COVID-19 Liability Safe Harbor Act”. It aims to protect businesses from getting sued for covid-related reasons if they’re following safety guidelines. "What I’m trying to do is encourage businesses to operate," said Massey. "Encourage people to be able to work. Encourage churches to remain open, encourage schools to remain open. But every one of these places is concerned with potential lawsuits because of staying open."