Legislative action for the week of Jan. 22-27:

PROPERTY TAXES: The state's chief economist told a Senate subcommittee most homeowners would see tax increases if they roll back property tax assessments. Bill Gillespie said Thursday the change would shift taxes "from the (Charleston) Battery to North Charleston, for example." The subcommittee handling property taxes rejected the roll back proposal after Gillespie's briefing.

SPENDING LIMITS: Gov. Mark Sanford's plan to put greater limits on government growth into the state constitution was introduced Thursday in the Senate. The legislation would let voters decide whether to limit future increases in state spending to a combination of inflation and population growth.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Parents could receive a state check or tax credit of up to $4,500 to send their children to private school under a bill introduced Thursday in the House. Rep. Tracy Edge, R-Myrtle Beach, said his bill is a more targeted approach to school choice than the Put Parents in Charge bill that died last year.

INTERSTATE 73: Tolls could be used to pay for Interstate 73 construction if Gov. Mark Sanford signs a bill approved by the Senate on Thursday. Sanford is expected to sign the legislation.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: The Senate agreed to change the state's charter school laws Tuesday - and Thursday. It had to give the same bill a second reading twice after passing a wide-ranging amendment Tuesday night without having a printed copy of the deal they had struck. On Wednesday, legislators found problems that were not finally resolved until Thursday afternoon. They'll give the House bill final approval next week.

PRESCHOOL FUNDING: A preliminary Education Department estimate shows it could cost up to $288 million to educate the state's at-risk 4-year-olds.

BILLBOARD BILL: Local governments will have to pay billboard companies when they force them to remove their signs under a bill the Senate sent back to the House Wednesday after a 27-12 vote. The Senate's version adds to the House bill a ban on billboards for adult or sexually oriented businesses within a mile of a public road.

POWER DISCONNECTIONS: The House gave final approval to a bill protecting the disabled, people over 65 or seriously ill with limited income from having their power disconnected during extremely cold or hot weather. The bill heads to the Senate without limits that would have barred people from being paid more than $200,000 if they sued. The new bill says now only that the protections do not create a right to sue.

SCHOOL CALENDAR: A bill now on the House floor says school districts can't start classes before the third week in August. The bill cleared the House Education and Public Works committee with an 11-4 vote Wednesday.

SCHOOL BUSES: The House Education committee also approved a bill that would put the state on a 12-year cycle for replacing school buses.

COMPUTERIZED TESTING: A bill that could lead to students taking annual tests on a computer has cleared the House and is now in the Senate. It would create an advisory council to study the cost of converting the state-standardized testing program from pencil and paper to a computer.

EDUCATION BILLS: House bills that would call for a preschool study, consolidate school districts, allow for easier transfers between public schools, and set up year-round school for underperforming students were introduced Tuesday.