COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Monday he is glad the General Assembly raised teacher salaries and cut taxes in the 2024 regular session that ended last week, but he thinks they still have more work to do before they go home for good.

McMaster wants to see lawmakers reform the commission that determines if candidates to be judges are qualified. Differences in the House and Senate bills are currently being worked out by a conference committee of three House members and three senators.

The harder lift might be resurrecting a bill that would combine six South Carolina heath care agencies into one department. The bill died on Thursday’s last regular session day when one House member of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus objected to taking it up immediately. It had passed both chambers overwhelmingly.

The proposal would combine separate agencies that currently oversee South Carolina’s Medicaid program, help for older people and those with mental health problems, public health and drug and alcohol abuse programs. One person would lead the agency, called the Executive Office of Health and Policy, and it would be in the governor’s cabinet.