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A16, R32, S219
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Goldfinch
Document Path: SFGF-0010BC25.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 15, 2025
Introduced in the House on March 5, 2025
Last Amended on February 26, 2025
Currently residing in the House
Governor's Action: May 8, 2025, Signed
Summary: Snapper-Grouper Fishery
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 3/5/2025 | House | Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs |
| 1/15/2025 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 1/15/2025 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 2/19/2025 | Senate | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish, Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 13) |
| 2/26/2025 | Senate | Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 25) |
| 2/26/2025 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 25) |
| 2/26/2025 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 25) |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 11) |
| 3/5/2025 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 9) |
| 3/5/2025 | House | Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 9) |
| 4/29/2025 | House | Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 5) |
| 5/1/2025 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 19) |
| 5/1/2025 | House | Roll call Yeas-107 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 20) |
| 5/1/2025 | House | Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 21) |
| 5/2/2025 | House | Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 12) |
| 5/6/2025 | Ratified R 32 | |
| 5/8/2025 | Signed By Governor | |
| 5/16/2025 | Effective date 05/08/25 | |
| 5/16/2025 | Act No. 16 |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/15/2025
02/19/2025
02/26/2025
02/26/2025-A
04/29/2025
NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(A16, R32, S219)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-5-2730, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL FISHING REGULATIONS IN STATE WATERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEASON, CATCH LIMITS, AND MINIMUM SIZES FOR CERTAIN SPECIES UNDER THE SNAPPER-GROUPER FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Federal fishing regulations declared to be law of State, exceptions
SECTION 1. Section 50-5-2730 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 50-5-2730. (A) Unless otherwise provided by law, any regulations promulgated by the federal government under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (PL 94-265) or the Atlantic Tuna Conservation Act (PL 94-70) which establishes seasons, fishing periods, gear restrictions, sales restrictions, or bag, catch, size, or possession limits on fish are declared to be the law of this State and apply statewide including in state waters.
(B) This provision does not apply to:
(1) black sea bass (Centropristis striata) whose lawful catch limit is five fish per person per day or the same as the federal limit for black sea bass, whichever is higher. The lawful minimum size for black sea bass is thirteen inches total length and there is no closed season;
(2) red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) whose lawful catch limit is two fish per person per day. The lawful minimum size for red snapper is twenty inches total length and there is no closed season; or
(3) all other species under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The lawful catch limit for a species under that plan is the limit as published in the 2024-2025 South Carolina Hunting and Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide, or the federal limit for the species, whichever is higher. The lawful minimum size limit for a species under that plan is the size as published in the 2024-2025 South Carolina Hunting and Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide, or the federal limit for the species, whichever is lower. There is no closed season.
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 6th day of May, 2025.
Approved the 8th day of May, 2025.
This web page was last updated on May 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM