South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

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H. 5217

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Hixon, Haddon, Forrest and Luck
Document Path: LC-0204PH26.docx

Introduced in the House on February 19, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on April 15, 2026
Last Amended on May 13, 2026
Currently residing in the House

Summary: Deer tags

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
2/19/2026 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 15)
2/19/2026 House Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 15)
4/2/2026 House Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 7)
4/14/2026 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Luck
4/14/2026 House Read second time (House Journal-page 45)
4/14/2026 House Roll call Yeas-110 Nays-1 (House Journal-page 45)
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 Fish, Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 42)
5/7/2026 Senate Recalled from Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 4)
5/12/2026 Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 56)
5/12/2026 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 56)
5/13/2026 Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 60)
5/13/2026 Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 60)
5/13/2026 Senate Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 60)
5/14/2026 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 42)
5/14/2026 House Roll call Yeas-113 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 42)
5/15/2026 Ratified R 261
5/18/2026 Signed By Governor

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/19/2026
4/2/2026
5/7/2026
5/12/2026
5/13/2026


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

(R261, H5217)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-650, RELATING TO DEER HUNTING, SO AS TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF DEER TAGS ISSUED.

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

Deer tags

SECTION 1.    Section 50-9-650(B)(2) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(2)(a) With the purchase of a South Carolina hunting license and a big game permit, a resident shall be issued three individual antlerless deer tags, two unrestricted individual antlered deer tags, and one antler restriction individual antlered deer tag valid for deer with a minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler spread. Persons under the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees may receive these tags upon request to the department. Residents, including persons under the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees also may purchase:

(i) two antler restriction individual antlered deer tags valid for deer with a minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler spread for five dollars per tag; and

(ii) additional individual antlerless deer tags for five dollars per tag.

(b) Fees for nonresident deer tags are as follows:

(i) fifty dollars for the first antlered deer tag and twenty dollars for each additional antlered deer tag up to a maximum of four tags; two of which must be an antler restriction individual antlered deer tag valid only for deer with a minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler spread; and

(ii) ten dollars per individual antlerless deer tag.

Time effective

SECTION 2.    This act takes effect on January 2, 2027.

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2026.

______________________________________________________________________

President of the Senate

_____________________________________________________________________

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2026.

____________________________________________________________________

Governor

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This web page was last updated on May 15, 2026 at 5:20 PM