South Carolina S 829: Agnes Love sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 829 Text of Previous Version (May. 06, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 829

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 Report

May 6, 2026

S. 829

Introduced 
by Senator Alexander 

S. Printed 5/6/26--H.

Read the first time March 24, 2026

________

The committee on House 
Judiciary

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 829) to 
amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 6-25-20, relating to 
definitions, so as to provide appropriate definitions; by amending Section 
6-25-50, etc., respectfully

Report:

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

W. NEWTON for Committee.

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill revises the process and 
information that must be provided in a joint system's filing to the Secretary 
of State. This bill also allows commissioners to be appointed by the Governor 
as an alternative to appointment by a joint system's governing body, set rules 
for qualifications and removal of commissioners, and allows the addition of new 
commissioners if a new member is added to the joint system. Further, this bill 
allows joint systems to reconstitute themselves and sets forth the procedures 
for doing so, while permitting former members to withdraw prior to 
reconstitution. This bill specifies that commissions fully appointed by the 
Governor may issue bonds with automatic extensions by a majority vote without 
separate approval from the governing bodies.

This bill will have no fiscal impact 
on the Office of the Governor, the House of Representatives, and the Senate as 
each anticipates any additional duties required by this bill can be managed 
within the normal course of business.

This bill will have no impact on the 
Secretary of State's Office. The agency anticipates the creation of an 
application for joint systems and subsequent processing of submitted 
applications will be managed with existing staff and resources.

Local Expenditure

This bill revises the process and 
information that must be provided in a joint system's filing to the Secretary 
of State. This bill also allows commissioners to be appointed by the Governor 
as an alternative to appointment by a joint system's governing body, set rules 
for qualifications and removal of commissioners, and allows the addition of new 
commissioners if a new member is added to the joint system. Further, this bill 
allows joint systems to reconstitute themselves and sets forth the procedures 
for doing so, while permitting former members to withdraw prior to 
reconstitution. This bill specifies that commissions fully appointed by the 
Governor may issue bonds with automatic extensions by a majority vote without 
separate approval from the governing bodies.

RFA contacted all counties in the 
state and MASC to determine the potential expenditure impact this bill may have 
for local governments. We received a response from Charleston County, Horry 
County, Lancaster County, and MASC. Horry and Lancaster Counties indicate that 
the bill will have no expenditure impact. Charleston County anticipates that 
this bill may increase expenses by an undetermined amount by allowing 
commissioners appointed by the Governor to increase the amount and duration of 
debt obligations without oversight from county council. Additionally, MASC 
anticipates this bill may have an undetermined impact on municipalities 
dependent upon costs incurred due to loss of municipal government oversight of 
commissioners' decisions, particularly related to the amount and term of debt 
issued by a joint system. MASC also notes municipalities may find it more 
difficult and costly to withdraw from a joint system in situations where 
capacity rights, long-term contracts, or bond obligations exist. 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY 
AMENDING SECTION 6-25-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE 
DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-25-50, RELATING TO APPLICATION FILED WITH 
SECRETARY OF STATE, SO AS TO REVISE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING 
SECTION 6-25-60, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR 
ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AS 
COMMISSIONER; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-25-70, RELATING TO CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIP OF 
JOINT SYSTEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENT WHEN A 
NEW MEMBER IS ADDED TO A JOINT SYSTEM; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-25-80, RELATING TO 
DISSOLUTION OF SYSTEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR JOINT SYSTEM 
RECONSTITUTION AND MEMBER WITHDRAWAL; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-25-110, RELATING TO 
AUTHORI