H 5069

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 5069
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
Amended
May 6, 2026
H. 5069
Introduced by Reps. T. Moore, Bradley, Wooten,
Brittain, Bernstein, Holman, Ford, Wetmore, Stavrinakis, B. Newton, Rivers,
Anderson, Kirby, McDaniel, Caskey, Erickson, Reese, Chapman, Govan, Yow,
Bustos, Martin, Sessions, Gatch, M. M. Smith, D. Mitchell, Guest, Neese, Pedalino,
Bauer, W. Newton, Gilreath, Gilliam, Luck, Pope, Ligon, Cox, J. L. Johnson,
Guffey, Bowers, Jordan, Collins, Duncan, Teeple, Lawson, Sanders, Montgomery,
Ballentine, Brewer, Gagnon, Haddon, Hartnett, Hartz, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon,
Jones, Lowe, Robbins, Cromer, Oremus, Davis, Gilliard, Gibson and McCravy
S. Printed 5/6/26--S.  [SEC
5/7/2026 11:23 AM]
Read the first time April 15, 2026
________
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 61 TO TITLE 48 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE
"SOUTH CAROLINA PROTECTED LANDS AND CONSERVATION COORDINATION ACT"; TO PROVIDE
DEFINITIONS; TO RECOGNIZE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AS AN IMPORTANT STATE
INTEREST; TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PROTECTED LAND BENCHMARK; AND TO PROVIDE FOR
COORDINATION OF LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS AND ANNUAL REPORTING TO THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
    Amend Title To Conform
    Amend Title To Conform
Whereas,
South Carolina's natural resources, including forests, farmlands, wetlands,
wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal areas, are vital to the State's
environmental health, economic vitality, agricultural productivity, and quality
of life; and
Whereas, continued
growth and rapid land development in South Carolina place increasing pressure
on natural resource preservation and have affected the health of the State's
streams, rivers, wetlands, water quality, wildlife habitats, and working lands,
all of which impact the quality of life of the state's current and future
citizens; and
Whereas, conservation
of these resources is achieved through a combination of public and private
efforts, voluntary landowner participation, agency programs, and local
initiatives; and
Whereas, coordination
among state agencies promotes the efficient use of public funds and strengthens
conservation outcomes while respecting private property rights; and
Whereas, voluntary
conservation easements on private lands provide a cost-effective means of
protecting working lands and natural resources and are an important tool for
advancing landscape-scale conservation across the State. Now, therefore:
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Protected Lands and
Conservation Coordination Act."
SECTION 2.  Title 48 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
CHAPTER 61
South Carolina Protected Lands and Conservation
Coordination Act
    Section
48-61-110. It is the policy of this State to recognize the conservation of
natural resources as an important state interest and to encourage resource agencies,
consistent with their statutory authority and missions, to support conservation
through planning, grant program administration, land management, voluntary
landowner partnerships, and activities that contribute to the establishment of
protected land. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize the
regulation of private property beyond statutory authority, require the
acquisition of private land, or diminish private property rights.
    Section
48-61-120. (A) The General Assembly
recognizes that approximately three million four hundred thousand acres of land
in this State are currently protected through conservation easements, public
ownership, and other legally enforceable conservation mechanisms.
    (B)
It is the long-range goal of the State to increase protected land to seven
million acres by the year 2050, representing roughly one third of the state's
land area. This benchmark is intended solely for purposes of long-term
planning, performance measurement, and evaluation of conservation trends and
does not create a legal requirement, mandate, or entitlement.
    (C)
Progress toward the benchmark described in subsection (B) shall be measured
based on acres of protected land established or enhanced through voluntary
conservation mechanisms and within statutory authority and available resources.
    (D)
Nothing in this section may be construed to require the acquisition of private
land or interests in land, authorize regulatory restrictions on private
property beyond the law, or obligate the General Assembly to appropriate funds.
SECTION 3.  If any section, subsection,
paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for
any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not
affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act,
the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and
each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause,
phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other
sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases,
or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise
ineffective.
SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on May 07, 2026 at 11:23 AM