South Carolina H 5069: SC Protected Lands and Conservation Coordination Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5069 Text of Previous Version (May. 07, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

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