H 3931

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 3931
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Committee Amendment Adopted
March 26, 2026
H. 3931
Introduced by Reps. Bailey, Sessions, Brewer,
Robbins, M. M. Smith, Burns, Haddon, Lowe, Schuessler and Guffey
S. Printed 3/26/26--S.  [SEC
4/1/2026 11:37 AM]
Read the first time April 24, 2025
________
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 48-39-150, RELATING TO APPROVAL OR
DENIAL OF PERMITS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH TIMELINES FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE
ACTION ON A PERMIT APPLICATION.
    Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Section 48-39-150(C) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
    (C) The department shall act upon an
application for a permit within ninety days after the application
is filedrequest is determined by the department to
be administratively and technically complete. Provided, however, that in
the case of minor developments, as defined in Section 48-39-10, the department
shall have the authority to approve such permits and shall act within thirty
days after the request is determined by the department to
be administratively and technically complete. If
the department requests additional technical information from the applicant,
that request must be made within fifteen days after the conclusion of the
public notice period. If a department request for additional technical
information is not made within fifteen days after the conclusion of the public
notice period, the application shall be considered complete and a decision must
be rendered within the time frames prescribed above. In the event a
permit is denied the department shall state the reasons for such denial and
such reasons must be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
SECTION 2.  Section 48-39-80(B)(11) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
    (11) Develop a system whereby the
department shall have the authority to review all state and federal permit
applications in the coastal zone, and to certify that these do not contravene
the management plan. For individual navigable waters permits for docks located
in the eight coastal counties but outside of critical areas, a coastal zone
consistency certification is deemed approved if certification review is not
completed within thirty days of an administratively complete application. For all other state permits, a coastal zone consistency
certification is deemed approved if certification review is not completed
within ninety days of the public comment period closing.
SECTION 3.  Chapter 6, Title 48 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:
    Section
48-6-35. (A) The Department of
Environmental Services may hire one or more third-party, independent engineers
to assist the department in its duties.
    (B) The
department must establish such reasonable regulations with respect to the
qualifications of contractors allowed to bid on work of the department. Such
regulations may fix eligibility requirements for bidders according to available
capital and with due regard to experience and records of past performance.
SECTION 4.  Section
48-39-130(D)(10) of the S.C. Code is repealed on September 30, 2032. Any
maintenance dredging occurring after September 30, 2032, in areas that were
dredged pursuant to Section 48-39-130(D)(10) must be performed pursuant to the
provisions contained in Chapter 39, Title 48 and the maintenance dredging
regulations promulgated pursuant to this act.
SECTION 5.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on April 01, 2026 at 11:37 AM