All 61 sales tax exemptions now on the books — from electric utilities to railroad cars to school meals — would end under a bill pre-filed in the S.C. Senate last week.

The measure, sponsored by state Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Beaufort, would end all tax exemptions in 2005 unless the House and Senate each vote by a two-thirds majority to extend them for three more years.

They then would be scheduled to expire again every three years unless reinstated.

This year, the 61 exemptions cost the state almost $1.4 billion, according to a report from the state Board of Economic Advisors. Richardson said he knows not all exemptions need to go, but he hopes the bill will stir up a debate on which ones are priorities.

Another pre-filed bill would tie driving privileges to school performance and attendance. State Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, wants to require students younger than 18 to attend school regularly and make adequate progress toward obtaining a diploma in order to keep their driving privileges.

Ritchie’s bill would require students with 10 unexcused absences during the school year to surrender their licenses.

The law would apply to beginner’s permits, conditional driver’s licenses, special restricted driver’s licenses and regular driver’s licenses.

Currently, the only requirement for people younger than 18 to obtain a license is that they be enrolled in school, Ritchie said.