South Carolina S 815: Charm Altman, retirement as chair of Newberry County Republican Party

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 815 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 815

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A joint Resolution

TO AMEND SECTIONS 1 AND 2 OF ARTICLE X, OF THE 
CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, BOTH RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX, SO AS TO 
PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY DETERMINE BY LAW THE CLASSIFICATIONS AND 
ASSESSMENT RATIOS OF SUCH PROPERTY.

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

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 1, Article X of the 
Constitution of this State be amended to read:

 Section 1. 
The General Assembly may provide for the ad valorem taxation by the State or 
any of its subdivisions of all real and personal property. The assessment of 
all property shall be equal and uniform in the classifications 
established by the General Assembly.following 
classifications:

 (1) All real and personal property owned 
by or leased to manufacturers, utilities and mining operations and used by the 
manufacturer, utility or mining operation, in the conduct of such business 
shall be taxed on an assessment equal to ten and one-half percent of the fair 
market value of such property.

 (2) All real and personal property owned 
by or leased to companies primarily engaged in transportation for hire of 
persons or property and used by the company in the conduct of such business 
shall be taxed on an assessment equal to nine and one-half percent of the fair 
market value of such property.

 (3) The legal residence and not more 
than five acres contiguous thereto shall be taxed on an assessment equal to 
four percent of the fair market value of such property.

 (4) Agricultural real property which is 
actually used for such purposes shall be taxed on an assessment equal to:

 (A) four percent of its value for such 
purposes when owned or leased to individuals or partnerships and certain 
corporations which do not:

 (i) have more than ten shareholders;

 (ii) have as a shareholder a person 
(other than an estate) who is not an individual;

 (iii) have a nonresident alien as a 
shareholder; and

 (iv) have more than one class of stock.

 (B) six percent of its value for such 
purposes when owned or leased to corporations, except for certain corporations 
specified in (A) above. Provided, that the General Assembly shall by general 
law provide for a penalty system on lands classified as agricultural lands to 
insure the proper utilization of this classification.

 (5) All other real property not herein 
provided for shall be taxed on an assessment equal to six percent of the fair 
market value of such property.

 (6) All inventories of business 
establishments shall be taxed on an assessment equal to six percent of the fair 
market value of such property.

 (7) All farm machinery and equipment 
except motor vehicles licensed for use on the highways owned by farmers and 
used on agricultural lands shall be taxed on an assessment equal to five 
percent of the fair market value.

 (8)(A) Except as provided in subitem (B) 
of this item, all other personal property must be taxed on an assessment equal 
to ten and one-half percent of the fair market value of the property.

 (B)(1) 
Personal motor vehicles which must be titled by a state or federal agency, 
limited to passenger motor vehicles and pickup trucks, as defined by law, must 
be taxed on an assessment equal to the following percentage of fair market 
value of the property:

 19

 Property Tax Year

 Percentage

 20

 year 1

 9.75

 21

 year 2

 9.00

 22

 year 3

 8.25

 23

 year 4

 7.50

 24

 year 5

 6.75

 25

 year 6 and after

 6.00

 (2) This subitem applies for property 
tax years beginning after 2001 or for earlier tax years as the General Assembly 
may provide by law.

SECTION 2. It is proposed that Section 2, Article X of the 
Constitution of this State be amended to read:

 Section 2. (a) The General Assembly may define the 
classes of property and values for property tax purposes of 
the classes of property set forth in Section 1 of this article and 
establish administrative procedures for property owners to qualify for a 
particular classification.

 (b) The General Assembly may provide for 
a gradual transition to any ratio as set out in Section 1

 over a period not to exceed 
seven years.

 (c)(b) Statutes pertaining to the methods of assessment of 
property for ad valorem taxation not in conflict with this article shall 
continue in force until changed by an act of the General Assembly.

 (d) The General Assembly may change the 
ratios as set forth in Section 1, but only with the approval of at least 
two-thirds of the membership of each house.

SECTION 3. The proposed amendment must be 
submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for 
representatives. Ballot