Legislative action for the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4:

PROPERTY TAXES: The House set Feb. 8 as the date it will begin debating property tax breaks. The first debate will involve an amendment to the state constitution and will require a two-thirds vote. The second involves putting the tax reduction plans into law and takes only a majority vote.

FLAG LOWERING: The House approved a bill that gives the governor the authority to order Statehouse flags flown at half-staff. Gov. Mark Sanford was criticized in October for not lowering flags after the death of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks.

INSURANCE DIRECTOR: Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, called for hearings to study whether the state Insurance Department is operating efficiently.

FETUS RIGHTS: Harming or killing a fetus could bring additional criminal charges under a bill headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The measure is similar to a 2004 federal law abortion-rights advocates criticized as an assault on reproductive freedom because it recognized legal rights for an embryo or fetus distinct from a woman's rights.

JUDICIAL ELECTIONS: People seeking election to state court seats would face tougher rules with legislation that headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, said concerns have grown that some people use a loophole in the law and seek legislators' support before they formally become candidates.

SCHOOL YEAR: Schools statewide could not hold classes before the third Monday in August under a bill the House approved Thursday. Several legislators said the issue of school start dates should be left to local school districts.

BILLBOARD BILL: A bill requiring local governments to pay billboard owners more when they remove the signs is back in the Senate. Critics say the legislation will make it harder for local authorities to remove signs, but supporters say it is only fair that billboard companies are compensated for income they could lose by removing signs.

UNIVERSITY FUNDING: University of South Carolina officials say the state needs to revamp its formula for funding the school's regional campuses. School officials told a House Ways and Means subcommittee that the state's continued use of old enrollment figures in its funding formula has led to a lack of parity in cash allocated to the campuses.

BREAST-FEEDING: The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday from breast-feeding advocates who want a new law that allows mothers to nurse in public. Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, said owners or managers should not be forced to allow women to breast-feed their babies in businesses.

PUNISHING BULLIES: A House Education subcommittee approved a bill Wednesday that prohibits students from harassing, intimidating or bullying other students and requires school personnel to report such behavior. The subcommittee approved changes to the "Safe Schools Act" that passed the Senate last year.

BUDGET SURPLUS: The House amended a bill that designates money left over from the 2004-05 budget year to give the state Education Department $13.1 million to keep school buses running. Both legislative chambers passed a resolution last month to use $104.9 million of the surplus to eliminate debt accumulated since 1991.

EMINENT DOMAIN: A bill that cleared a Senate panel Tuesday would let voters decide whether to change the state constitution and limit government power to take private land. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee approved two ballot questions. One asks voters to clarify that private property can only be taken when it will be owned and used by the government or by everyone. The second question involves eliminating parts of the constitution that allow local governments slum clearance authority.

FAMILY COURT REFORM: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Tuesday to more narrowly define the types of conduct that can be considered for a disturbing schools charge. Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, said the bill was intended to relieve the state's courts from an unnecessary load of disciplinary cases that could be considered by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: The state Senate OK'd amended charter school legislation Tuesday, leaving it to the House to approve or reject changes to the bill. The bill sets up a statewide charter school district to authorize new charter schools, freeing hopeful school operators from the need to gain approval to operate from sometimes hostile local school boards.

MATERNITY LEAVE: A bill that allows state employees to give their accrued sick days to a co-worker for maternity leave passed the House on Wednesday. The donors could designate their days to whoever they want.