COLUMBIA, S.C. - House members on Wednesday prefiled 144 bills for the legislative session that begins next month.

Many of the bills were listed as priorities last week in the GOP's "Palmetto Pledge," including the Job Creation Act of 2005.

The bill, sponsored by House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, is aimed at creating small businesses and offering incentives for existing small businesses to expand.

Wilkins also filed an income tax reduction bill, which seeks to reduce the state's top income tax rate to 4.75 percent from 7 percent.

Other bills filed Wednesday seek to restructure state government and reform the state's judicial system.

Lawmakers will return to Columbia for the new session Jan. 11.