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A236, R249, H4476
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Rutherford, Bamberg, J. Moore, Herbkersman and Rivers
Companion/Similar bill(s): 665
Document Path: LC-0327SA25.docx
Introduced in the House on May 1, 2025
Introduced in the Senate on April 28, 2026
Last Amended on May 12, 2026
Governor's Action: May 19, 2026, Signed
Summary: Trade commissions
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 5/1/2025 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 139) |
| 5/1/2025 | House | Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry (House Journal-page 139) |
| 4/22/2026 | House | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor, Commerce and Industry (House Journal-page 8) |
| 4/23/2026 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rivers |
| 4/23/2026 | House | Amended (House Journal-page 126) |
| 4/23/2026 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 126) |
| 4/23/2026 | House | Roll call Yeas-88 Nays-21 (House Journal-page 131) |
| 4/23/2026 | House | Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 132) |
| 4/24/2026 | House | Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 3) |
| 4/28/2026 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 4/28/2026 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry (Senate Journal-page 9) |
| 5/5/2026 | Senate | Recalled from Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry (Senate Journal-page 6) |
| 5/12/2026 | Senate | Amended (Senate Journal-page 50) |
| 5/12/2026 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 50) |
| 5/12/2026 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-3 (Senate Journal-page 50) |
| 5/13/2026 | Senate | Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 59) |
| 5/14/2026 | House | Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 38) |
| 5/14/2026 | House | Roll call Yeas-108 Nays-1 (House Journal-page 38) |
| 5/15/2026 | Ratified R 249 | |
| 5/19/2026 | Signed By Governor | |
| 6/5/2026 | Effective date 05/19/26 | |
| 6/3/2026 | Act No. 236 |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
05/01/2025
04/22/2026
04/23/2026
05/05/2026
05/12/2026
NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(A236, R249, H4476)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 80 TO TITLE 39 ENTITLED "SOUTH CAROLINA-BAHAMAS TRADE COMMISSION" SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA-BAHAMAS TRADE COMMISSION AND PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP AND PURPOSE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission
SECTION 1. Title 39 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 39-80-100. (A) There is established the "South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission" to advance bilateral trade and investment between South Carolina and The Bahamas. The commission consists of fifteen members appointed as follows:
(1) four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom must be members of the House of Representatives;
(2) four members appointed by the President of the Senate, two of whom must be members of the Senate; and
(3) seven members appointed by the Governor:
(a) the Secretary of the Department of Commerce or his designee;
(b) the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee;
(c) two representatives from state institutions of higher education;
(d) two members representing Bahamian Americans in South Carolina or Bahamian-American communities; and
(e) one representative from a South Carolina business organization or trade organization.
(B) The members of the commission must be appointed for terms of four years each and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that the seven members appointed by the Governor shall serve initial terms of two years each, the four members appointed by the President of the Senate shall serve initial terms of three years each, and the four members appointed by the Speaker shall serve initial terms of four years each. Members may be reappointed.
(C) Appointments must be made within ninety days following the enactment of this act. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
(D) Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds available to the commission.
(E) The commission shall meet and hold hearings at designated places.
(F) The Governor shall designate a chairperson or co-chairpersons from among the commission members, serving at the Governor's pleasure. The chairperson may appoint subcommittees and its chairpersons as deemed necessary. A majority of the commission members constitutes a quorum for conducting business.
(G) The commission's purposes include:
(1) advancing bilateral trade and investment between South Carolina and The Bahamas;
(2) initiating joint action on policy issues of mutual interest;
(3) promoting business and academic exchanges;
(4) encouraging mutual economic support;
(5) encouraging mutual investment in infrastructure; and
(6) addressing other issues as determined by the commission.
(H) The commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly within one year of its initial meeting and by February first annually thereafter. The report must include recommendations to effectuate its purposes.
(I) The commission is authorized to raise funds through direct solicitation or fundraising events, alone or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests to defray administrative expenses and carry out its purposes. No general fund appropriations shall be used to support commission operations or administration. Funds received shall be deposited with the State Treasurer and allocated to the Department of Commerce for these purposes. Expenditures for administering the commission and fulfilling its purposes are exempt from the provisions of Chapter 35, Title 11 of the S.C. Code.
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 15th day of May, 2026.
Approved the 19th day of May, 2026.
This web page was last updated on June 3, 2026 at 12:37 PM