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A143, R186, H3872
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. B.J. Cox, Bauer and Caskey
Document Path: LC-0024PH25.docx
Introduced in the House on January 30, 2025
Introduced in the Senate on March 4, 2025
Last Amended on April 29, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Governor's Action: May 15, 2026, Signed
Summary: Hunting Heritage Protect Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 1/30/2025 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 47) |
| 1/30/2025 | House | Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 47) |
| 2/26/2025 | House | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 8) |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Amended (House Journal-page 30) |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 30) |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Roll call Yeas-110 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 30) |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 32) |
| 2/28/2025 | House | Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 4) |
| 3/4/2025 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 14) |
| 3/4/2025 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 14) |
| 3/5/2025 | Scrivener's error corrected | |
| 4/1/2026 | Senate | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish, Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 24) |
| 4/29/2026 | Senate | Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 63) |
| 4/29/2026 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 63) |
| 4/29/2026 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 63) |
| 4/30/2026 | Senate | Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 36) |
| 5/6/2026 | House | Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 59) |
| 5/6/2026 | House | Roll call Yeas-117 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 59) |
| 5/14/2026 | Ratified R 186 | |
| 5/15/2026 | Signed By Governor | |
| 5/26/2026 | Effective date 01/01/27 | |
| 5/26/2026 | Act No. 143 |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/30/2025
02/26/2025
02/27/2025
03/05/2025
04/01/2026
04/29/2026
NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(A143, R186, H3872)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "HUNTING HERITAGE PROTECTION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-2250 SO AS TO PROHIBIT DECISIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD RESULT IN ANY NET LOSS OF DEPARTMENT-MANAGED LAND FOR HUNTING.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Citation
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Hunting Heritage Protection Act."
No net loss of land acreage for hunting and fishing
SECTION 2. Article 10, Chapter 11, Title 50 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 50-11-2250. (A) To the greatest practical extent, decisions by the department must not result in any net loss of land acreage available for hunting opportunities on wildlife management areas owned by the department.
(B) Annually, on or before July first, the department must submit to the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee and the House Agricultural, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee a report providing:
(1) the acreage available for hunting opportunities on wildlife management areas owned by the department; and
(2) efforts by the department to offset the loss of hunting opportunities, if any, on wildlife management areas owned by the department.
Time effective
SECTION 3. This act takes effect on January 1, 2027.
Ratified the 14th day of May, 2026.
Approved the 15th day of May, 2026.
This web page was last updated on May 26, 2026 at 3:34 PM