South Carolina S 325: Consumer Affairs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 325 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 23, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 325

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

April 22, 2026

S. 325

Introduced 
by Senators Massey, Alexander, Walker and Zell 

S. Printed 4/22/26--H. [SEC 
4/23/2026 12:17 PM]

Read the first time March 4, 2026

________

The committee on House Labor, 
Commerce and Industry

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 325) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 1-30-10, relating to 
departments of state government, so as to add the Department of Consumer 
Affairs, etc., respectfully

Report:

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

WILLIAM HERBKERSMAN for 
Committee.

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 1-30-10, RELATING TO DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO ADD THE 
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH 
OF STATE GOVERNMENT; BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-145 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE 
TRANSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF 
STATE GOVERNMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 37-6-103, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF 
"ADMINISTRATOR," SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR IS APPOINTED BY THE 
GOVERNOR UPON THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 
37-6-104(6), 37-6-117(I), 37-6-501 THROUGH 510, 37-6-602, AND 37-6-604(B), ALL 
RELATING TO FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, SO AS 
TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO BE 
REPLACED WITH AN ADMINISTRATOR AS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT.

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

SECTION 1. Section 1-30-10(A) and (B)(1)(i) of the S.C. Code is 
amended to read:

 Section 
1-30-10. (A) There are hereby 
created, within the executive branch of the state government, the following 
departments:

 1. Department of 
Administration

 2. Department of 
Agriculture

 3. Department of 
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services

 4. Department of 
Commerce

 5. Department of Consumer 
Affairs

 56. Department of 
Corrections

 67. Department of 
Disabilities and Special Needs

 78. Department of Education

 89. Department of Public 
Health

 910. 
Department of Health and Human Services

 1011. 
Department of Insurance

 1112. 
Department of Juvenile Justice

 1213. 
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

 1314. 
Department of Mental Health

 1415. 
Department of Motor Vehicles

 1516. 
Department of Natural Resources

 1617. 
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

 1718. 
Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services

 1819. 
Department of Public Safety

 1920. 
Department of Revenue

 2021. 
Department of Social Services

 2122. 
Department of Transportation

 2223. 
Department of Employment and Workforce

 2324. 
Department on Aging

 2425. 
Department of Veterans' Affairs

 2526. 
Department of Environmental Services.

 (B)(1) The governing authority of each 
department shall be:

 (i) 
a director, an administrator, or a secretary, who 
must be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
subject to removal from office by the Governor pursuant to provisions of 
Section 1-3-240(B); or

SECTION 2. Chapter 30, Title 1 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

 Section 
1-30-145. There is hereby created, within the executive branch of the state 
government, the Department of Consumer Affairs, headed by an administrator 
appointed by the Governor pursuant to Section 37-6-103. The employees, funds, 
authorized appropriations, property, assets, liabilities, and all contractual 
rights and obligations associated with the Department of Consumer Affairs 
formerly headed by the Commission of Consumer Affairs, are hereby transferred 
to and incorporated in and shall be administered as part of the newly 
reconstituted Department of Consumer Affairs within the executive branch of 
state government.

SECTION 3. Section 37-6-103 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
37-6-103. "Administrator" means the officer appointed by the Commission on Consumer Affairs 
Governor, upon the advice and consent of the Senate, to administer this 
title, as provided in (part 
Part 5 of this chapter).

SECTION 4. Section 37-6-104(6) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (6) The administrator shall not bring 
class actions, initiate criminal actions or seek injunctive relief, as provided 
in this title, without prior approval of a majority of the 
Commission on Consumer Affairs the Governor, exclusive of members who are associated with any such business 
within the meaning of Section 8-13-20.

SECTION 5. Section 37-6-117(i) of the S.C. Code is amended t