South Carolina H 4679: Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr., retirement

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4679 Text of Previous Version (May. 08, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4679

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 7, 2026

H. 4679

Introduced by Reps. C. Mitchell, Cox, M. M. 
Smith, Wooten, Chapman, W. Newton, Herbkersman, Wickensimer, Guest, McCravy, 
Hartnett, Gilliard, Rivers and Williams 

S. Printed 5/7/26--S. [SEC 
5/8/2026 3:37 PM]

Read the first time April 15, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT 
THE "SOUTH CAROLINA DRONE REGULATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 
55-1-110 SO AS TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR DRONE OPERATIONS, AND PENALTIES FOR 
UNLAWFUL DRONE USE.

 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 "Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act".

SECTION 2. Chapter 1, Title 55 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 3

Drone Regulation and Public Safety

 Section 
55-1-200. For the purposes of this article:

 (1) "Unmanned 
aircraft system (UAS)" or "drone" refers to any aircraft, as defined by Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, or any unmanned aerial vehicle 
(UAV), operated remotely without a pilot onboard.

 (2) "Commercial 
drone operator" means any person operating, landing, or taking off a drone for 
business purposes in compliance with FAA regulations including, but not limited 
to, 14 CFR Part 107, or any successor statue or regulation.

 (3) "Recreational 
drone operator" means any person operating, landing, or taking off a drone for 
personal use in accordance with FAA regulations and recreational guidelines 
including, but not limited to, 49 USC Section 44809 or any successor statue or 
regulation.

 (4) "Controlled 
airspace" refers to areas where drone operations are prohibited or require 
prior authorization, including FAA-designated UAS flight-restricted areas and 
certain locations designated by the Aeronautics Commission.

 (5) "Military 
installation" means:

 (a) 
any state or federal military base, fort, camp, post, station, home port, 
depot, arsenal, training range, testing range, airfield, air station, shipyard, 
port facility, or other military facility of similar character, that:

 (i) 
is owned, operated, or otherwise controlled by the United States or this State;

 (ii) 
is used primarily for official military operations, training, testing, support, 
maintenance, or housing; and

 (iii) is subject to controlled access 
or security measures.

 (b) 
the term includes any facility described in subsection (5)(a) that is under the 
jurisdiction or control of the United States Department of Defense or a secretary 
of a military department, and facilities under the control of the South 
Carolina National Guard, the Adjutant General, the South Carolina State Guard, 
or any other component of the state militia;

 (c) 
the term also includes any United States military vessel or ship, including 
United States Navy vessels and United States Coast Guard cutters, while 
operating, transiting, or in port within the territorial waters of this State;

 (d) 
the term does not include a state or federally owned, operated, or otherwise 
controlled publicly accessible facility that is primarily used for military 
recruitment, outreach, administrative services, or other activities conducted 
in a commercial storefront, kiosk, leased office space, or other similar 
location or facility, that is not restricted for military operations or 
training;

 (6) "Operate" 
or "operating a drone" means to manipulate or control a drone in flight, 
including managing its flight path, altitude, or automated flight functions, 
whether directly or through an automated or preprogrammed system.

 (7) "Take 
off and landing site" means the location from which a drone is launched into 
flight or to which it is intentionally returned and recovered, including any 
temporary or mobile launch point used during an operation.

 (8) "Take 
off" means to initiate or cause the ascent of an unmanned aircraft or drone 
from ground or surface contact into flight, whether directly or through an 
automated or preprogrammed system.

 (9) "Land" 
means to intentionally cause or direct an unmanned aircraft or drone to descend 
from flight to ground or surface contact, whether directly or through an 
automated or preprogrammed system.

 (10) "Weaponize" 
means to equip, modify, or configure an unmanned aircraft system with any 
explosive, destructive device, firearm, hazardous substance, or any other item 
designed to cause and capable of causing death, bodily injury, or property 
damage.

 (11) "Correctional 
facility" or "detention facility" means any federal, state, county, municipal, 
or multij