H 3121 {Rat #139} General Bill, By Hyde, Carter, B. Newton, Neese, T. Moore, 
Pope, Bauer, Davis, M.M. Smith, Willis, Brewer, Robbins, Felder, Stavrinakis, 
Wetmore and Caskey
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3810 SO
 AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCOME TAX CREDIT TO A PROPERTY OWNER WHO ENCUMBERS HIS
 PROPERTY WITH A PERPETUAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL EASEMENT. - RATIFIED TITLE

   12/8/2022  House  Prefiled
   12/8/2022  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
   1/10/2023  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 71)
   1/10/2023  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means (House Journal-page 71)
   1/26/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Neese, 
                     T. Moore
   2/7/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pope
   2/8/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bauer, 
                     Davis,  M.M. Smith
   3/14/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Willis
   3/29/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brewer, 
                     Robbins
   4/19/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Felder
   4/26/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Stavrinakis,  Wetmore
   5/4/2023  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways
                     and Means (House Journal-page 4)
   5/9/2023  House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 23)
   5/10/2023  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey
   5/10/2023  House  Amended (House Journal-page 26)
   5/10/2023  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 26)
   5/10/2023  House  Roll call Yeas-113  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 27)
   5/11/2023  House  Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 20)
   5/11/2023  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 9)
   5/11/2023  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance (Senate Journal-page 9)
   2/28/2024  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Finance (Senate Journal-page 17)
   3/19/2024  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 20)
   3/19/2024  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 20)
   3/19/2024  Senate Roll call Ayes-43  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 20)
   3/20/2024  Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 12)
   3/27/2024  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 37)
   3/27/2024  House  Roll call Yeas-107  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 37)
   5/8/2024         Ratified R 139
   5/13/2024         Signed By Governor

(R139, H3121)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3810 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCOME TAX CREDIT TO A PROPERTY OWNER WHO ENCUMBERS HIS PROPERTY WITH A PERPETUAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL EASEMENT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Recreational Trail Easement Income Tax Credit

SECTION 1.    Chapter 6, Title 12 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 12-6-3810.    (A) A taxpayer who encumbers his property with a perpetual recreational trail easement and right of way is allowed a one?time income tax credit equal to ten cents for each square foot of the property that is encumbered by the recreational trail easement.

(B) The easement and right of way must be held by a municipality, county, or special purpose district within the State or by a Land Trust Alliance accredited land trust and must be recorded with the appropriate Register of Deeds. The easement must include an agreement with the municipality, county, or land trust to grant access to the general public and address improvements to the trail, which could include pavement or soft?surface trails and maintenance.

(C) To qualify for this tax credit, the trail must provide a connection between a trail within a municipality's, county's, or special purpose district's regional trail system plan in this State and a local or regional attraction or point of interest. User groups may include equestrians, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non?motorized users. Local or regional points of interest include other trails, parks, waterways, or other recreational and open space attractions, retail centers, arts and cultural facilities, transportation facilities, residential concentrations, or similar destinations.

(D) If the credit exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability for the taxable year, the excess amount may be carried forward for credit against income taxes in the next five succeeding taxable years.

(E) To receive the credit the taxpayer shall claim the credit on his income tax or withholding return in a manner prescribed by the department. The department may require any information that it determines is necessary for the calculation of the credit provided by this section.

(F) The maximum amount of tax credits allowed to all qualifying taxpayers pursuant to this section may not exceed one million dollars for each calendar year.

Time effective

SECTION 2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to income tax years beginning after 2023. This act is repealed on January 1, 2029, and is no longer effective for any income tax year after 2028.

Ratified the 8th day of May, 2024.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2024.

This web page was last updated on May 8, 2024 at 4:43 PM