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A158, R211, H5111
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Forrest, Lastinger, Hartz, Gibson, McCravy, Reese and Duncan
Document Path: LC-0582WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 5, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on April 15, 2026
Last Amended on April 14, 2026
Currently residing in the Senate
Governor's Action: May 15, 2026, Signed
Summary: Public Water System Connections
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 2/5/2026 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 15) |
| 2/5/2026 | House | Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 15) |
| 3/25/2026 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger |
| 4/1/2026 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hartz |
| 4/2/2026 | House | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 7) |
| 4/14/2026 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gibson, McCravy, Reese, Duncan |
| 4/14/2026 | House | Amended (House Journal-page 42) |
| 4/14/2026 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 42) |
| 4/14/2026 | House | Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 44) |
| 4/15/2026 | House | Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 16) |
| 4/15/2026 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 42) |
| 4/15/2026 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 42) |
| 4/29/2026 | Senate | Recalled from Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 7) |
| 5/5/2026 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 51) |
| 5/5/2026 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 51) |
| 5/6/2026 | Senate | Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 83) |
| 5/14/2026 | Ratified R 211 | |
| 5/15/2026 | Signed By Governor | |
| 5/26/2026 | Effective date 05/15/26 | |
| 5/26/2026 | Act No. 158 |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/05/2026
02/05/2026-A
04/02/2026
04/14/2026
04/29/2026
NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(A158, R211, H5111)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 6-1-200 SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS AND PROHIBIT A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION FROM UNREASONABLY RESTRICTING PRIVATE WELLS ON AGRICULTURAL OR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND FROM REQUIRING CONNECTION TO A WATER SYSTEM IF THE SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Public water systems connections
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 6 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 6-1-200. (A) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Political subdivision" includes, but is not limited to, a municipality, county, special purpose district, or public service district.
(2) "Impaired water quality" means a written determination by the Department of Environmental Services or the Department of Public Health that a public water system serving the jurisdiction is not in compliance with applicable state or federal drinking water standards.
(B) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a political subdivision may not adopt, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule that prohibits or unreasonably restricts the drilling, servicing, repair, installation, operation, or maintenance of a private water well located on and serving either agricultural or single-family residential property consisting of one-half acre or more.
(1) Any property owner utilizing a well while connected to a water system must install necessary backflow prevention devices inspected and approved by the water provider or their third-party designee and the inspection costs must be paid by the property owner.
(2) Political subdivisions operating a water system must create a registry for all property owners utilizing a well where water service is available. Property owners must register the well with the political subdivision.
(3) Where water service is available from a political subdivision at the time of well installation, a property owner is subject to any base charges, fees, or assessments imposed by the political subdivision, notwithstanding the installation or use of a private well, and regardless of the amount of water consumed from the water system.
(C) Upon a determination of impaired water quality pursuant to item (A)(2), and notwithstanding another provision of law, a political subdivision may not adopt, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule that prohibits or unreasonably restricts the drilling, servicing, repair, installation, operation, or maintenance of a private water well on agricultural or residential property consisting of one-half acre or more otherwise authorized under state law.
(D) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a political subdivision cannot require connection to a water system if the system is unable to provide service to that property. If the political subdivision is unable to provide services, the providing entity must notify the property owner in writing within thirty days of the request for service.
(E) Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize a property owner to disconnect from a water system provided by a political subdivision and property connected to such a water system must remain connected to the system.
(F) Nothing in this section alters the regulation, operation, or permitting of public or community wells regulated under state or federal law.
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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 4:05 PM