The SC General Assembly met in regular session this week with a joint assembly on Wednesday to elect judges. Several subcommittees met and debated bills that impact cities and towns. House and senate members will be in Columbia next week for regular session.
Senate subcommittee debates annexation and property tax exemption legislation
The Senate Finance Property Tax subcommittee met on Thursday morning and heard testimony 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 on S264. He expressed concern with the bill and offered to work with stakeholders to address those concerns.
Both bills were carried over by the subcommittee. For questions on these two bills, contact Erica Wright (ewright@masc.sc) at 803.354.4793.
House subcommittee approves septic tank bill with amendments
The House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Environmental Affairs subcommittee met on Tuesday to hear testimony on H3656, the wells and septic tanks bill. Daina Riley Phillips, Municipal Association legislative and public policy advocate, testified against the bill and the amendments. The subcommittee adopted an amendment that prohibits counties, cities and towns from denying the installation of a private irrigation water well or a septic system regardless of whether the property is connected or served by a public water and sewer system.
Next, the bill goes to the full House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs 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.
House Education and Public Works subcommittee
H3292 – golf cart operation – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows counties and municipalities to enact ordinances to allow golf carts to operate in designated areas at night.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Public Utilities subcommittee
H3309 – enacts the SC Energy Security Act – favorable report with amendments. The amendments add ratepayer protections and oversight by the Public Utility Review Committee, and keeps the consumer advocate at the SC Department of Consumer Affairs. The amendments also encourage the development of nuclear infusion, allows the bill’s language to apply to water and other utilities by removing the word “electric,” and closes loopholes on permit applications. Later in the week, the full House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee gave this bill a favorable report.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes changes to the state's energy policy through the Public Service Commission and the regulation of utilities.
Senate Finance Sales and Income Tax subcommittee
S291 – continuing budget resolution – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Gives the continuing authority to pay the expenses of state government if the 2025-2026 fiscal year begins without a general appropriations bill.
House Judiciary Committee
H3570 – disclosure of economic interests – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Changes who is responsible for filing of statements of economic interest with the SC Ethics Commission.
House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Environmental Affairs subcommittee
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 Judiciary Committee
S12 – Santee Cooper joint project authorization – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Authorizes Santee Cooper to jointly own, with investor-owned utilities, electrical generation and transmission facilities.
S38 – special elections to fill vacancies – favorable report as amended by the subcommittee to add language from S123 and the other removes unnecessary language that references the House of Representatives for the U.S. Congress.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires special elections to fill vacancies in office to be held only on five specific dates.
House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Municipal and Public Affairs subcommittee
H3230 – preservation and protection of cemeteries – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Authorizes city and county councils to pass an ordinance to require that cemetery owners and operators to maintain, preserve and protect the cemetery.
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 Medical Affairs subcommittee
S2 – establishes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities – favorable report as amended. The amendment merges the three agencies together to form one agency.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Establishes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
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 that 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.