Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

May 5, 2026

 

S. 832

 

Introduced by Senators Sutton, Graham, Goldfinch and Zell

 

S. Printed 5/5/26--H.

Read the first time March 11, 2026

 

________

 

The committee on House Education and Public Works

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 832) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 53-1-20, relating to college and university campuses exempt from the prohibition on Sunday public sports, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

SHANNON ERICKSON for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill states that no county or municipality may prohibit, restrict, condition, delay, or require a land use approval for an event held on the campus of a state-supported institution of higher learning based on any zoning ordinance, zoning district, overlay district, land use classification, or other land use regulation, provided that the event is approved by the governing board of the institution. The bill further states that nothing may limit a county or municipality's authority to apply and enforce generally applicable building, fire, life safety, health, and traffic laws and regulations.

This bill is not expected to have an expenditure impact on state institutions of higher learning, based on responses from USC, MUSC, CCU, CofC, Lander, and the Tech System. These entities indicate the bill will be implemented under normal operations for state institutions of higher learning.

 

State Revenue

Winthrop indicates that this bill may have a revenue impact, depending on the extent to which the bill requires the Board of Trustees to approve all events on campus. According to Winthrop, the board meets four times per year and would be unable to provide express approval for each individual event held on campus throughout the year. This could impact a portion of the $750,000 non-athletic revenue for the university. However, the actual revenue impact will depend on the extent to which express approval is required by the Winthrop Board of Trustees to allow an event to occur despite county or municipal ordinances or land use rules or regulations and, therefore, is undetermined.

 

Local Expenditure

This bill may impact a county or municipality's ability to enforce a zoning ordinance, zoning district, overlay district, land use classification, or other land use regulations as it relates to events held on the campus of a state-supported institution of higher learning.

RFA contacted all counties in South Carolina and MASC to determine the local fiscal impact of this bill and received responses from the counties of Dorchester and Lancaster and MASC. Based on responses from Dorchester and Lancaster Counties, as well as MASC, this bill will have no local fiscal impact.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

_______

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 53-1-20, RELATING TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES EXEMPT FROM THE PROHIBITION ON SUNDAY PUBLIC SPORTS, SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS PERTAINING TO CAMPUS EVENTS AND LAND USE APPROVAL, TO PROVIDE THAT NO COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY MAY PROHIBIT, RESTRICT, CONDITION, DELAY, OR REQUIRE LAND USE APPROVAL FOR EVENTS HELD ON THE CAMPUS OF A STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING BASED ON ZONING ORDINANCES OR LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS, AND TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF GENERALLY APPLICABLE SAFETY LAWS.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 53-1-20 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 53-1-20. (A) As used in this section:

       (1) "Campus" means real property owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by a state-supported institution of higher learning, including stadiums, arenas, athletic facilities, performance venues, and associated grounds and parking areas, whether the property is located within or outside municipal boundaries.

       (2) "Event" means a concert, performance, commencement, lecture, exhibition, festival, ceremony, athletic contest, or similar gathering, whether hosted solely by the institution or in partnership with a third party, provided the event is approved by the governing board of the institution.

       (3) "Land use approval" means any approval, permit, determination, exception, variance, or authorization required because of the use of land or a land use classification under a local ordinance, including approvals administered by a zoning administrator, planning department, board of zoning appeals, or similar body.

    (B) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, college and university campuses shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 53-1-10.

    (C) No county or municipality may prohibit, restrict, condition, delay, or require a land use approval for an event held on the campus of a state-supported institution of higher learning based on any zoning ordinance, zoning district, overlay district, land use classification, or other land use regulation including, but not limited to, any requirement for a special exception, conditional use approval, variance, zoning permit, certificate of zoning compliance, zoning determination, site plan approval, development plan approval, or similar land use approval, provided that the event is approved by the governing board of the institution.

    (D) Nothing in this section may be construed to limit a county's or municipality's authority to apply and enforce generally applicable building, fire, life safety, health, and traffic laws and regulations.

 

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

----XX----