South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

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H. 5208

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. B. Newton and Moss
Companion/Similar bill(s): 1004
Document Path: LC-0444DG26.docx

Introduced in the House on February 18, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on April 28, 2026
Passed by the General Assembly on May 12, 2026

Summary: Sales Tax Exemption

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
2/18/2026 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 50)
2/18/2026 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means (House Journal-page 50)
4/21/2026 House Committee report: Favorable Ways and Means (House Journal-page 6)
4/23/2026 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). Cromer
4/23/2026 House Read second time (House Journal-page 22)
4/23/2026 House Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 22)
4/23/2026 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 23)
4/24/2026 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 2)
4/28/2026 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 11)
4/28/2026 Senate Referred to Committee on Finance (Senate Journal-page 11)
5/5/2026 Senate Committee report: Favorable Finance (Senate Journal-page 14)
5/7/2026 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 62)
5/7/2026 Senate Roll call Ayes-46 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 62)
5/12/2026 Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 26)
5/14/2026 Ratified R 216
5/19/2026 Signed By Governor

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/18/2026
4/21/2026
5/5/2026


NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(R216, H5208)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-36-2120, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM SALES TAX, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN UNPREPARED FOODS, THAT MAY BE PURCHASED WITH FOOD COUPONS WHICH ARE EXEMPT FROM TAXES, ARE NOT LIMITED TO CERTAIN FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Sales tax exemption

SECTION 1.    Section 12-36-2120(75) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(75) unprepared food that lawfully may be purchased with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons, without regard to any demonstration project pursuant to United States Department of Agriculture regulations that would limit the use of food coupons on otherwise eligible items for a limited period of time. However, the exemption allowed by this item applies only to the state sales and use tax imposed pursuant to this chapter;

Time effective

SECTION 2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2026.

______________________________________________________________________

President of the Senate

_____________________________________________________________________

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2026.

____________________________________________________________________

Governor

----XX----


This web page was last updated on May 14, 2026 at 10:02 PM