Bill to Prohibit Mandatory Residential Fire Sprinkler Introduced in General Assembly
A bill that prohibits mandatory residential fire sprinklers (S. 1057) has been introduced in the General Assembly and is currently before the S.C. Senate.

Professional Remodelers Should Apply Now for Lead Certification
Time is running short to get the application for firm certification filled out and approved ahead of the effective date for EPA's Lead Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule on April 22.

Save 20% on Convention Early Bird Registration
Early bird registration is now open for the state convention and will end on March 15.

Gabriel Builders Help Local Students in Honor of 25 Years of Home Building
South Carollina-based luxury home builder Gabriel Builders, Inc., is marking an impressive milestone—celebrating its 25th anniversary and marking the occasion by funding scholarships to assist local students.

Important IRS Updates on Claiming the Home Buyer Tax Credit
The IRS has published an updated version of Form 5405 as well as instructions for home buyers using it to claim the $8,000 first-time buyer credit as well as repeat buyers seeking to claim the $6,500 credit.

Duke Energy Adds Two Provisions to S.C. Underground Distribution Installation Plan; Provisions Affect All New Developments
Duke Energy Carolinas recently gained approval from the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to raise general rates in the state, the first such increase since 1991.

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty® Gift Will Help Adapt Homes For Injured Veterans
As a means of launching its year-long 30th anniversary celebration, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty® (2-10 HBW®) announced a $10,000 donation to Homes for Our Troops, which builds specially equipped homes for severely injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Columbia Has One of Lowest Percentages of Distressed Homes Across State, U.S.
Data released recently show that South Carolina’s major metro areas had some of the lowest foreclosure rates across the U.S. for 2009.

Remodeling Poised to Enter Early Phase of Recovery
Trailing closely behind new residential construction, remodeling is expected to reach its cyclical bottom during the current business quarter and begin slowly climbing back toward more normal levels as the year progresses, according to economists speaking at last month’s International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

South Carolina SkillsUSA: Call for Exhibitors
Put your business in front hundreds of young building professionals at the South Carolina SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, April 15-17, in Greenville.

Self Insurers Fund Website Gets New Look, Added Features
The South Carolina Home Builders Self Insurers Fund has refreshed their website and added some new features just that make doing business much easier than before.

Insurance Agents Get CEUs at Free Workshop
National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI), is hosting free workshops for licensed South Carolina insurance agents to learn more about NCCI’s Assigned Risk Application Process, Basic Manual Rule Two, Inspection Program, and Experience Rating Plan.