South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4799
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Lawson, B.L. Cox, C. Mitchell, Pope, Govan, Lastinger, Caskey, M.M. Smith, Williams, Gilliard and Waters
Companion/Similar bill(s): 693
Document Path: LC-0348VR26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on March 31, 2026
Last Amended on March 26, 2026
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Medical Affairs
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 12/16/2025 | House | Prefiled |
| 12/16/2025 | House | Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs |
| 1/13/2026 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 94) |
| 1/13/2026 | House | Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 94) |
| 1/20/2026 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Govan |
| 3/25/2026 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger |
| 3/25/2026 | House | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 4) |
| 3/26/2026 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey, M.M. Smith, Williams, Gilliard, Waters |
| 3/26/2026 | House | Amended (House Journal-page 47) |
| 3/26/2026 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 47) |
| 3/26/2026 | House | Roll call Yeas-105 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 48) |
| 3/26/2026 | House | Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 50) |
| 3/27/2026 | House | Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 3) |
| 3/31/2026 | Scrivener's error corrected | |
| 3/31/2026 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 13) |
| 3/31/2026 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs (Senate Journal-page 13) |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/17/2025
03/25/2026
03/26/2026
03/31/2026
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Amended
March 26, 2026
H. 4799
Introduced by Reps. Lawson, Cox, C. Mitchell, Pope, Govan, Lastinger, Caskey, M. M. Smith, Williams, Gilliard and Waters
S. Printed 3/26/26--H. [SEC 3/31/2026 10:39 AM]
Read the first time January 13, 2026
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A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-170, RELATING TO CERTIFICATE OF NEED EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT VETERANS HOMES OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS DO NOT REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE OF NEED.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 44-7-170(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(B) This article does not apply to:
(1) construction of a new hospital with up to fifty beds in any county currently without a hospital;
(2) hospitals owned by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and operated by the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, except an addition of one or more beds to the total number of beds of the predecessor departments' health care facilities existing on July 1, 1988;
(3) any federal hospital sponsored and operated by this State;
(4) hospitals owned and operated by the federal government.;
(5) veterans' homes owned and operated by the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on March 31, 2026 at 10:40 AM