South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

H. 5506

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Jordan, Williams, Atkinson, Kirby and Lowe
Document Path: LC-0248CM25.docx

Introduced in the House on April 2, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on April 28, 2026
Last Amended on April 30, 2026
Currently residing in the House

Summary: Pee Dee Regional Airport Authority

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
4/2/2026 House Introduced and read first time
4/2/2026 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
4/16/2026 House Recalled from Committee on Ways and Means (House Journal-page 24)
4/23/2026 House Read second time (House Journal-page 18)
4/23/2026 House Roll call Yeas-105 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 19)
4/23/2026 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 20)
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 Transportation (Senate Journal-page 11)
4/28/2026 Senate Polled out of committee Transportation (Senate Journal-page 16)
4/28/2026 Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation (Senate Journal-page 16)
4/30/2026 Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 53)
4/30/2026 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 53)
4/30/2026 Senate Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 53)
5/5/2026 Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 22)
5/7/2026 House Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 39)
5/12/2026 House Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 102)
5/13/2026 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 65)
5/13/2026 House Roll call Yeas-107 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 66)
5/14/2026 Ratified R 219
5/19/2026 Signed By Governor

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/2/2026
4/16/2026
4/28/2026
4/30/2026

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

(R219, H5506)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 55-11-620, RELATING TO THE PEE DEE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VARIOUS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 55-11-630, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A PERPETUAL EXEMPTION FROM THE IMPOSITION OR ASSESSMENT OF STORMWATER FEES; BY AMENDING SECTION 55-11-640, RELATING TO THE PROMULGATION OF CERTAIN REGULATIONS BY THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN FINES COLLECTED MUST BE FORWARDED TO THE PEE DEE REGIONAL AIRPORT DISTRICT; AND BY ADDING SECTION 55-11-740 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PEE DEE REGIONAL AIRPORT DISTRICT MAY APPLY TO THE FOREIGN-TRADE ZONES BOARD TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN FOREIGN-TRADE ZONES.

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

Pee Dee Regional Airport Authority

SECTION 1.    Section 55-11-620 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 55-11-620.    The corporate powers and duties of the Pee Dee Regional Airport District must be exercised and performed by an authority to be known as the Pee Dee Regional Airport Authority which consists of nine members. Two members must be residents of the City of Florence appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the Florence County Legislative Delegation. Three members must be residents of the County of Florence appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Florence County Legislative Delegation. Two members must be residents of each of the counties of Marion and Dillon appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the respective county legislative delegations. Terms of office are for four years, except that of those initially appointed one member from each of the three counties must be appointed for two-year terms. No member shall serve more than two four-year terms. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualify. Vacancies on the authority must be filled in the manner of their original appointment for the unexpired term. The authority shall elect its own officers with terms and duties as determined by the authority. The members of the authority must be compensated at the per diem rate of fifty dollars a meeting, not to exceed twelve meetings a year until such time as the amount is increased by the councils of the counties.

Stormwater fee exemption

SECTION 2.    Section 55-11-630 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

(14) maintain a perpetual exemption from the imposition or assessment of any stormwater fee, charge, assessment, or similar exaction, whether characterized as a fee or a tax, relating to stormwater runoff, imposed at any time by any state, county, or municipal governmental entity, or by any private contractor or third party acting on behalf of, or under authority of, such governmental entities.

Fines

SECTION 3.    Section 55-11-640(E) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(E) All fines and forfeitures collected pursuant to the provisions of this section must be forwarded weekly to the Pee Dee Regional Airport District by the enforcing court for deposit in the general operating fund of the district.

Foreign Trade Zones

SECTION 4.    Chapter 11, Title 55 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 55-11-740.    (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, the Pee Dee Regional Airport District may make application to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board for the purpose of establishing, operating, and maintaining foreign-trade zones in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro counties, under the act of Congress known as the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, which provides for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of foreign-trade zones in the United States.

(B) The Pee Dee Regional Airport District shall select and describe the location of the zones for which application may be made and shall make such regulations concerning the operation, maintenance, and policing of them as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the Foreign-Trade Zones Act and for other appropriate purposes.

(C) The Pee Dee Regional Airport District has the authority to own, erect, maintain, and operate or lease any structures or buildings or enclosures as may be necessary or proper for establishing, operating, and maintaining such foreign-trade zones within Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro counties.

(D) The authority granted to the Pee Dee Regional Airport District confers the right, duty, and power to do all things necessary and proper to achieve compliance with the Foreign-Trade Zones Act and to carry into effect the establishing, operating, and maintaining of foreign-trade zones within Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro counties.

Time effective

SECTION 5.    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

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This web page was last updated on May 14, 2026 at 10:03 PM