South Carolina S 167: South Carolina Waterways Protection Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 167 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 30, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 167

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

January 29, 2025

S. 167

Introduced 
by Senator Campsen 

S. Printed 1/29/25--S. [SEC 
1/30/2025 12:34 PM]

Read the first time January 14, 2025

________

The committee on Senate Fish, Game 
and Forestry

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 167) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws so as to enact the "south carolina waterways 
protection act"; by adding Section 50-9-975 so as to establish the south 
carolina, etc., respectfully

Report:

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

GEORGE CAMPSEN for Committee.

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT 
THE "SOUTH CAROLINA WATERWAYS PROTECTION ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 50-9-975 SO AS 
TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA WATERWAYS PROTECTION FUND AND THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH 
REVENUES IN THE FUND MAY BE EXPENDED; AND BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-3215 SO AS TO 
REQUIRE THAT A TAX NOTICE FOR WATERCRAFT MUST INCLUDE A WATERWAYS PROTECTION 
FEE OF THREE DOLLARS.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Waterways Protection Act"

SECTION 2. Article 9, Chapter 9, Title 50 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
50-9-975. (A) The South Carolina 
Waterways Protection Fund is created for the purpose of receiving the 
three-dollar waterways protection fee that is attached to each tax notice for a 
watercraft, as provided in Section 12-37-3215.

 (B) 
Revenues for the fund must be remitted to the State Treasurer and credited to 
an account that is separate and distinct from the general fund. Balances in the 
fund must be retained and carried forward annually and interest earned on 
balances in the fund must be credited to the fund.

 (C) 
The fund must only be used by the department for the following purposes:

 (1) 
the removal of hazardous, abandoned, or unattended vessels, marine debris, or 
hazards to navigation from the waters of the State;

 (2) 
identification, marking, and lighting of hazards to navigation in accordance 
with applicable rules governing aids to navigation; and

 (3) 
the development and administration of a grant program to provide funds to 
applicants, whether public or private, to remove hazardous, abandoned, or 
unattended vessels, marine debris, or hazards to navigation from the waters of 
the State.

 (D) 
The department must allocate annual fund revenues for use in the four game 
zones of this State based upon the number of registered and documented 
watercraft in each game zone. If the department determines a game zone's 
proportional allocation is not used or obligated by the end of a fiscal year, then 
it may distribute up to seventy-five percent of the unused and unobligated 
allocation for use in the other game zones on an as-needed basis. The remaining 
unused and unobligated allocation must be added to the game zone's proportional 
allocation for the following fiscal year. For the purpose of this subsection, 
Game Zone 1 consists of the entirety of Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens 
Counties and Game Zone 2 consists of no part of Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens 
Counties.

 (E) 
The South Carolina Office of Resilience, upon request from the department, may 
assist in the development and administration of a grant program established 
under this section.

 (F) 
The department must provide an annual report on its website disclosing 
expenditures from the fund.

SECTION 3. Article 26, Chapter 37, Title 12 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
12-37-3215. A tax notice for a watercraft must include a waterways protection 
fee of three dollars. The fee must be deposited by the county treasurer into 
the South Carolina Waterways Protection Fund, as established in Section 
50-9-975. The issuance or renewal of a certificate of number by the Department 
of Natural Resources is not contingent on the payment of a waterways protection 
fee.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect on July 1, 
2025.

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This web page was last updated on January 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM