South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

RATIFICATION OF ACTS

FOR MARCH 25, 2026

Pursuant to an invitation the Honorable Speaker and House of Representatives appeared in the Senate Chamber on March 25, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. and the following Acts were ratified:

(R114, H. 3629 (Word version)) -- Rep. T. Moore: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 48-23-120, RELATING TO FORESTRY COMMISSION ACQUISITIONS, SO AS TO PERMIT ACQUISITION OF TIMBERLANDS AND AGRICULTURAL LANDS, TO PROVIDE FOR USES OF THOSE LANDS AND PROHIBIT ACQUISITION OF LAND AT A PRICE EXCEEDING ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE; BY AMENDING SECTION 48-23-132, RELATING TO REVENUES FROM SPECIFIED SOURCES, SO AS TO OUTLINE WHAT THE FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR; BY AMENDING SECTION 48-33-60, RELATING TO DUTIES AND POWERS OF COUNTY FORESTRY BOARDS AND EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO SPECIFY DUTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 48-33-70, RELATING TO FOREST FIRE PROTECTION ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO UPDATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 48-33-80, RELATING TO ACCESS TO PROPERTY, SO AS TO DESIGNATE WHO MAY ACCESS LAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING OR CONTROLLING FIRES; BY REPEALING SECTION 48-23-270 RELATING TO USE OF REVENUE FOR SCRUB OAK ERADICATION, REFORESTATION, TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT, AND HARVEST CUTTING IN STATE PARKS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 48-23-280 RELATING TO USE OF REVENUE FOR SCRUB OAK ERADICATION AND REFORESTATION IN MANCHESTER AND SANDHILLS STATE FORESTS.

(R115, H. 3831 (Word version)) -- Reps. Lawson, Hayes, Sessions, T. Moore, McCravy, Guffey, Chapman, M.M. Smith, Gagnon, Martin, Moss, Duncan, Sanders, Grant, Howard, Bauer, Pedalino, Robbins, Schuessler, Rivers and Waters: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SMART HEART ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-165 SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN IN EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-17-155, RELATING TO THE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR PROGRAM IN HIGH SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR ONSITE AND WITHIN CERTAIN PROXIMITY OF SCHOOL ATHLETIC VENUES, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED TESTING, MAINTENANCE, AND PERSONNEL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

(R116, H. 3858 (Word version)) -- Reps. Brewer, Pedalino, Lowe, C. Mitchell, M.M. Smith, B.J. Cox, Chapman, Davis, Sessions, Erickson, Guffey, B.L. Cox, Hewitt, Teeple, Hartnett, Pope, Rutherford, Brittain, Wooten, Guest, Hager, J.L. Johnson, B. Newton, Bailey, Bustos, Gagnon, Gilliam, Herbkersman, Holman, Jordan, Lawson, Martin, Murphy, Robbins, Ballentine, T. Moore, Montgomery, Sanders, Atkinson, Ligon, Gibson, J. Moore, Caskey, Moss, Huff, Beach, Terribile, Kilmartin, Hardee, Taylor, Yow, J.E. Johnson, Landing, Frank, Forrest, Oremus, Kirby, Hixon, Cromer and Gilreath: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1 OF CHAPTER 23, TITLE 50, SECTION 50-23-345, AND SECTION 50-23-375, ALL RELATING TO THE TITLING OF WATERCRAFT AND OUTBOARD MOTORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATIONS ON WATERCRAFT AND OUTBOARD MOTORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-3210, RELATING TO TAX NOTICES FOR BOATS AND BOAT MOTORS, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-23-370, RELATING TO WATERCRAFT CERTIFICATES, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR 42.8571 PERCENT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF WATERCRAFT; TO AMEND SECTION 50-23-425, RELATING TO THE DENIAL OF RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION, SO AS TO INCLUDE OUTBOARD MOTORS; BY ADDING SECTIONS 50-23-430, 50-23-440, 50-23-450, 50-23-460, 50-23-470, AND 50-23-480 ALL SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR REGISTRATION OF OUTBOARD MOTORS; BY REPEALING SECTIONS 50-23-350 AND 50-23-380 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF NUMBER BY AGENTS AND THE TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, RESPECTIVELY; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-23-320, RELATING TO THE NUMBERING OF VESSEL EXCEPTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR A VESSEL COVERED BY A FEDERALLY APPROVED NUMBERING SYSTEM OF ANOTHER STATE; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-21-10, RELATING TO WATERCRAFT DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "OUTBOARD MOTOR"; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO WATERCRAFT AND MOTORS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO REMOVE MOTORS FROM THE EXEMPTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-714, RELATING TO BOATS WITH SITUS IN THIS STATE, SO AS TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO BOAT MOTORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-3200, RELATING TO THE TAX YEAR FOR BOATS, SO AS TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO BOAT MOTORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-3220, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX RETURNS FOR BOATS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY TAX RETURNS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-3230, RELATING TO THE ASSESSED VALUE OF BOATS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BOATS AND WATERCRAFT AND ANY AFFIXED OUTBOARD MOTORS AS A SINGLE UNIT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-3240, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM BOAT AND WATERCRAFT TAX, SO AS TO REMOVE A REFERENCE TO BOAT MOTORS.

(R117, H. 4216 (Word version)) -- Reps. Bannister, Pope, G.M. Smith, B. Newton, Hiott, Murphy, Moss, Crawford, Bradley, Hager, M.M. Smith, Bustos, Landing, Lowe, Lawson, B.J. Cox, Jordan, Brittain, Forrest, Neese, Vaughan, Long, Montgomery, Davis, Sessions, C. Mitchell, Gatch, Herbkersman, Schuessler, Caskey, T. Moore, Hewitt, Erickson, Bowers, Gilliam, Teeple, Guest, Bailey, Guffey, Holman, Yow, Ballentine, Martin, Calhoon, Taylor, Hartnett, Robbins, Willis, B.L. Cox, Ligon, Brewer, Gagnon, Hartz, Hixon and Pedalino: AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-510, RELATING TO INCOME TAX RATES FOR INDIVIDUALS, ESTATES, AND TRUSTS, SO AS TO REDUCE THE TOP MARGINAL INCOME TAX RATE TO 5.21 PERCENT, TO CREATE ANOTHER INCOME TAX BRACKET TO WHICH A 1.99 PERCENT RATE APPLIES, AND TO SET FORTH STANDARDS FOR ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-50, RELATING TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTIONS SPECIFICALLY NOT ADOPTED BY THE STATE, SO AS TO NOT ADOPT THE FEDERAL STANDARD DEDUCTION AND ITEMIZED DEDUCTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-1140, RELATING TO INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR A SOUTH CAROLINA INCOME ADJUSTED DEDUCTION (SCIAD); BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-4910, RELATING TO PERSONS REQUIRED TO FILE A TAX RETURN, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE TO THE CALCULATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-1720, RELATING TO ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TAXABLE INCOME OF NONRESIDENT INDIVIDUALS, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-3632, RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM CREDIT AMOUNT.

(R118, H. 5182 (Word version)) -- Reps. Hager, Erickson and W. Newton: AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE JASPER COUNTY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE LOCAL FUNDS ON A PER-PUPIL BASIS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY THAT SATISFY CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL MAY DESIGNATE AND ALLOCATE ANY COUNTY REVENUE SOURCE FOR ALLOCATION TO ELIGIBLE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Last Updated: March 25, 2026 at 3:41 PM