The SC General Assembly met in regular session this week. House and Senate subcommittees and committees continue to debate legislation and hear testimony from stakeholders on important issues such as liquor liability and tort reform.
The House gave second reading to H3570, requiring more elected and appointed officials to file statements of economic interests with the SC Ethics Commission. The House adopted an amendment to include the word “state” to avoid including additional municipal boards and commissions.
The House also gave final approval to H3309, the energy policy bill. No amendments were adopted that directly affect municipal electric utilities. The House Ways and Means Committee begins debate on its version of the state budget on Tuesday afternoon.
Senate subcommittee approves property tax and annexation bills
The Senate Finance Property Tax subcommittee met again on Tuesday to continue working on two bills – S125, the low-income housing property tax exemption bill; and S264, the farm property annexation bill. S125 provides a property tax exemption for a nonprofit housing corporation for a percentage that equals the corporation’s ownership interest in the property. S264 prohibits land with farm buildings or agricultural structures from being annexed by a municipality without express written agreement of the owner. Todd Glover, the Association’s executive director, testified again on S264. He continued to express concern with the bill that not all properties taxed as agriculture are farms and offered to work with stakeholders to address those concerns.
The subcommittee passed S125 with an amendment that extends the effective date to 2026. The subcommittee also passed S264, the agricultural annexation bill. The subcommittee heard testimony on a third bill that was added to the subcommittee agenda, S317, a 50% property tax exemption on boats. The subcommittee ultimately carried this bill over for further discussion. The SC Association of Counties and the SC School Boards Association testified against the bill.
For questions on these three bills, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
House Agriculture Committee adjourns debate on wells bill
The House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee met on Tuesday to debate H3656, the wells and septic tanks bill. Committee members voted to adjourn debate on the bill after hearing from several more groups in opposition to the legislation. The bill remains in the committee. For questions about this bill, contact Daina (dphillips@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203.
Stay in Touch
The Municipal Association legislative team is on X. Follow Erica Wright (@EricaMuniSC) for updates from the State House. Also follow the Association at @MuniAssnSC. 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 Transportation subcommittee
S275 – electric vehicle charging stations – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires an electric utility provider that offers an electric vehicle charging station directly to the public to do so on a non-discriminatory basis under the same fees and conditions offered to private providers of EV charging stations.
House Ways and Means Property Tax subcommittee
H3841 – property tax designations – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows the 4% property tax assessment ratio to continue at 4% after the owner dies.
House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee
H3814 – Surface Water Study Committee – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows the Surface Water Study Committee to study the current state of groundwater in the state and postpones the due date of the committee's report until March 2, 2026.
Senate Finance Property Taxation subcommittee
S317 – Boat taxes – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a 50% exemption of property taxes on the fair market value of watercraft.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S192 – implied consent for driving under the influence – the subcommittee met and took testimony but did not take action on the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows law enforcement agencies to determine which method of testing for alcohol or drugs shall be administered and removes the requirement that a breath test be administered before other sobriety tests.
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws subcommittee
H3497 – liquor liability insurance – the subcommittee met and heard testimony from stakeholders but did not take action on the bill. The subcommittee plans to meet again to hear further testimony.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a captive insurance company to provide liquor liability insurance.
Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Professions and Occupations subcommittee
S171 – waste tire disposal fees - favorable report as amended. The amendment excludes farm and agricultural tires from the fee. The next day, the full Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee gave this bill a favorable report as amended by the subcommittee.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a county to charge up to $400 per tire as a tipping fee for waste tire disposal.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S157 – storm damage recovery – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows an electric utility to include storm recovery costs for Hurricane Helene in its cost of capital from the date of the storm through the issuance of storm recovery bonds.
House Judiciary Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Special Laws subcommittee
H3460 – disclosure of electronic communication – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Authorizes a law enforcement officer, a circuit solicitor or the attorney general to require the disclosure of electronic communication by a provider of an electronic communication service.
Senate Judiciary subcommittee
S244 – tort reform – the subcommittee met and heard testimony from stakeholders but did not take action on the bill. The subcommittee plans to meet again to continue discussions.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Instructs a jury or a court to determine the percentage of fault of the claimant, the defendant and of any nonparty whose act or omission was a proximate cause of the claimants' alleged damages.
S184 – dram shop – the subcommittee met and heard testimony from stakeholders but did not take action on the bill. The subcommittee plans to meet again to continue discussions.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes liability for a person or establishment who illegally furnishes alcohol to an individual who injures a third party.