House and Senate members met in regular session on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. House members worked to clear bills from the calendar to prepare for the budget debate, and senators adopted a bill to decrease the property taxes on boats.
The House of Representatives will meet at 1 p.m. on Monday to begin debating the House Ways and Means Committee’s version of the state budget. House members also placed two bills on the calendar to debate after the budget addressing income tax reduction and tax conformity.
There are 10 weeks left in the second year of the 2025 – 2026 legislative session. Election filing for the SC House of Representatives and all state constitutional offices opens on March 16 at noon.
Concurrency bill amended and approved by Senate subcommittee
After hearing additional testimony, a Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee gave a favorable report with amendments to S227, a concurrency bill. The bill seeks to give local governments the statutory authority to condition land development approval on the availability and adequacy of public facilities.
The amendment, which was sponsored by the subcommittee chairman, would
- limit concurrency programs to transportation, water, wastewater, stormwater, law enforcement, fire and EMS;
- prohibit applying concurrency to schools, parks, libraries or other unlisted facilities;
- require objective, uniformly applied level-of-service standards reviewed at least every five years;
- prohibit local governments from denying developments if the applicant provides proportionate-share mitigation, while requiring that developers receive credit for prior contributions and not be required to fix pre-existing deficiencies beyond their share;
- set procedural requirements and allow binding agreements and phased improvements, as well as required action, if standards are not met for 36 months;
- exempt affordable housing developments meeting specified income or financing thresholds; and
- prohibit a county from exercising concurrency within a municipality.
After testimony from the Municipal Association’s Associate General Counsel Sara Weathers, the subcommittee chairman agreed to work with the Association to refine his amendment prior to the full committee meeting, which is expected to take place next week.
For questions about the concurrency bill, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
Bond bill in the Senate
S891, a bill that eliminates Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds for cities and counties, was introduced in the Senate and sponsored by Sen. Tom Corbin (R-Greenville). This bill would eliminate the ability of cities to use IPRBs for projects that benefit residents and businesses. If cities and towns have current projects in place, are planning to use an IPRB for future projects, or have used an IPRB for a past project since 2006, this bill would affect the project and the financing. This bill could be on a subcommittee agenda as early as next week.
For questions about this bill, contact Daina Phillips (dphillips@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203.
Property tax cut bills update
S768, an increase in the property tax homestead exemption to $150,000 for South Carolina resident homeowners 65 years old and older, was passed by the Senate and sent to the House for debate. This bill includes a local government reimbursement with the increase in the exemption for local governments. The bill is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee.
H3858, a bill that decreases the tax on boats by 50% in the state and deletes the requirement that outboard motors be titled separately from hulls, was given third and final reading by the Senate on Thursday. Senators debated the bill Wednesday and some shared concerns regarding the ability of local governments to make up the lost revenue in combination with other tax cuts currently being considered. Next, the bill goes to the House to concur on the Senate amendments or make further amendments to the bill.
H5006, a bill that exempts $10,000 from business personal property taxes for small businesses, unanimously passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
For questions about these tax bills, contact Webster Hall (whall@masc.sc) at 803.933.1232.
Senate Transportation bill approved by full committee
S831, the Senate version of the SC Department of Transportation modernization bill, was given a favorable report by the Senate Transportation Committee as amended by the subcommittee. The subcommittee amendment, sponsored by Sen. Sean Bennett (R-Dorchester), strikes the proposed congestion mitigation fees, strikes electric vehicle fees, and strikes the language that allows a county council to serve as the county transportation committee. A proposed amendment that would have made cities responsible for road mitigation projects after an annexation was not included. Next, the bill goes to the full Senate for debate.
H5071, the House version, remains in the House Ways and Means Revenue Policy subcommittee without action. For questions about both SCDOT modernization bills, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
From the Dome to Your Home podcast
Don’t forget to listen to the From the Dome to Your Home podcast every Friday for a recap of the week’s legislative issues and a look to the week ahead at the State House.
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources subcommittee
S867 – Enacts the Data Center Development Act – the subcommittee took testimony but did not take action on the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes a Data Center Development Office in the SC Department of Environmental Services to manage permitting data centers in the state.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Business and Commerce subcommittee
S163 – Local zoning and digital asset mining – favorable report. Later in the week, the full House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee gave this bill a favorable report.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits a governing authority from accepting or requiring a payment using central bank digital currency. The bill also prohibits a political subdivision from placing zoning restrictions on digital asset mining businesses that do not generally apply to other businesses in the area.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Banking and Insurance subcommittee
H4817 – Enacts the Insurance Rate Reduction and Policyholder Protection Act – favorable report as amended. The amendment clarifies the creation of a fraud unit; adds a criminal penalty; creates a zero-dollar deductible option; and creates an SC Department of Insurance discount benchmark.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes changes to the SC Department of Insurance by creating a Fraud Division separate from the Attorney General's office.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Real Estate subcommittee
H5113 – Zoning and manufactured homes – favorable report as amended. The amendment includes language that would require the bill to apply to manufactured homes not less than 5 years old from titling.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits local governments from preventing the continuance of legal nonconforming use of property when a preexisting manufactured home or mobile home is replaced with a new manufactured home or mobile home.
Senate Finance Property Tax subcommittee
S508 – Monument and memorial protection – favorable report as amended. The amendment removes the Local Government Fund withholding penalty; requires a monument to be moved to another prominent location before property is sold; and contemplates how to handle monuments and memorials during construction or road work.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Withholds disbursements from the Local Government Fund for any county or municipality that removes or relocates monuments or memorials.
S436 – Property tax on aircraft – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Adds a property tax exemption for a portion of the value of an aircraft of an airline company.
House Judiciary Criminal Laws subcommittee
H4292 – Enacts the Roadway Protection and Safety Act – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes it illegal to participate in, organize, be a spectator, aider or abettor of a street takeover.
H3034 – Enacts Fargo's, Hyco's, Rico's, Coba's, Wick's and Mikka's Law – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Expands the conduct, requires restitution and increases the penalties for a violation of the current law related to taunting, tormenting, injuring or killing police dogs or horses.
House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Medical and Health Affairs subcommittee
H5013 – PFAS testing program for firefighters – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires the SC Department of Public Health to establish and administer a statewide firefighter occupational health program to test for PFAS.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
H3874 – workers’ compensation fees for attorneys and physicians – favorable report as amended. The amendment ensures commissions do not have unregulated discretion and requires annual review of fee schedules.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows the Workers' Compensation Commission to establish medical fee schedules and related procedures for implementation and enforcement.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S902 – Enacts the Data Center Siting Act – the subcommittee members heard testimony on this bill but did not take action.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires a certificate issued by the Public Service Commission before a data center may begin operations in South Carolina.
S724 – Commercial data centers water usage – the subcommittee members heard testimony on this bill but did not take action.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires commercial data centers to annually report their water usage to the SC Department of Environmental Services.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S632 – Lobbying rules for city and town councils – carried over. The Municipal Association is working on an amendment with the sponsor of the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Includes local governing bodies in the definition of lobbyists and lobbying activities.
S960 – Election commission disclosure requirements – the subcommittee did not take action on this bill at the subcommittee.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes disclosure requirements for election communications by an independent expenditure committee.
House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Municipal and Public Affairs subcommittee
H4293 – Planning and zoning permits – the subcommittee heard testimony but did not take action on the bill. The Municipal Association is working on an amendment with the sponsor of the bill that will protect cities and towns from litigation associated with vested rights violations.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Invalidates any related permits if county or municipal zoning officials determine that the use of a property is not permitted under applicable zoning classifications.
Senate Corrections and Penology Committee
S385 – Enacts the Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources and Education Act – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires a women is who detained in a local detention facility to notify the individual conducting the initial intake if she is pregnant and it also requires the facility to administer a pregnancy test within three days of initial intake.