South Carolina S 20: Health and Human Services Department

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 20 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 11, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 20

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 50-9-20, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES, 
PERMITS, AND TAGS FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, SO AS TO AMEND THE NATIVE AMERICAN 
INDIAN LICENSE; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-530, RELATING TO GRATIS, SENIOR, AND 
CATAWBA LICENSES, SO AS TO AMEND NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN LICENSE AND PROVIDE FOR 
PROCESS FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP OF A RECOGNIZED NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE OR GROUP; 
BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-570, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL HUNTING OF MIGRATORY 
GAME BIRDS WITHOUT PERMIT, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING 
SECTION 50-11-515, RELATING TO THE USE OF WILD TURKEY FEATHERS IN ART, SO AS TO 
PROVIDE FOR THE SALE OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTS BY NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS.

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

SECTION 1. Section 50-9-20(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 (A) The duration for hunting and fishing 
licenses, permits, and tags for recreational purposes is as follows:

 (1) 
a temporary license, permit, or tag expires after the specified number of 
consecutive days inclusive of the start date and expiration date;

 (2) 
an annual license, permit, or tag expires on the last day of the license year 
for which the license was issued; provided, the department may issue an annual 
license, permit, or tag that expires the day before the anniversary of the date 
of its issuance;

 (3) 
a three year license or permit expires on the last day of the third license 
year of issue; provided, the department may issue a three year license or 
permit that expires the day before the third anniversary of the date of its 
issuance;

 (4) 
a three year disability license expires the day before the third anniversary of 
the date of its issuance; and

 (5) 
the Native American Catawba Indian 
license expires October 27, 2092.

SECTION 2. Section 50-9-530 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
50-9-530. (A) A resident born 
before July 1, 1940, may obtain from the department at its designated licensing 
locations a gratis lifetime hunting and fishing license at no cost.

 (B) A 
resident born after June 30, 1940, who has attained the age of sixty-four years 
may obtain from the department at its designated licensing locations a senior 
lifetime hunting and fishing license for nine dollars, one dollar of which the 
issuing sales vendor may retain.

 (C) A 
resident born after June 30, 1979, who has attained the age of sixty-four years 
and who has not completed the required hunter education certification, may 
obtain a senior lifetime fishing license for nine dollars, one dollar of which 
the issuing sales vendor may retain. Upon completion of the hunter education 
certification the licensee may apply to the department for the additional 
senior lifetime hunting privileges at no cost.

 (D) A 
member of the Catawba Indian a 
Native Indian Tribe or group recognized by the 
United States Government or South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs, 
who is a resident of this State, upon application to the department at its 
designated licensing locations may obtain a Catawba hunting and fishing license 
at no cost. A certification must be included with the 
application from the Chief of the Catawba Indian Tribe stating the applicant is 
a bona fide member of the tribe. Along with the 
application, a Native American Indian must submit an affidavit, signed by the 
chief of his tribe certifying that the applicant is a member of the chief's 
tribe. The Department of Natural Resources may develop a form affidavit to use 
for all Native American Indian hunting and fishing licenses.

 (E) A 
member of the Catawba Indian a 
Native Indian Tribe or group, who is a 
resident of this State born after June 30, 1979, and who has not completed the 
required hunter education certification, may obtain a Catawba 
Native American Indian fishing license at no cost. 
Upon completion of the hunter education certification the licensee may apply to 
the department for the additional Catawba Native American Indian hunting privileges at no cost.

 (F) 
Gratis, senior, and Catawba Native 
American Indian licenses hunting privileges include statewide hunting, 
hunting big game, hunting on wildlife management area lands, and hunting 
migratory waterfowl. The fishing privileges of these licenses include 
freshwater fishing, freshwater fishing using a set hook, and saltwater fishing.

 (G) 
There is no cost to a Catawba 
Native American Indian hunting and fishing licensee for any other tags 
required by law for recreational hunting and fishing except for those 
department hunting and fishing activities co