Bills

The conservation enhancement act (S.1039 in the Senate and H.4956 in the House) re-establishes the Deed Stamp funding mechanism for the South Carolina Conservation Bank. This critical funding would generate an estimated ~$22 million in FY 2022, vastly increasing the Bank’s capacity to conserve lands in our state. The Senate version of the legislation also directs sales taxes from outdoor recreational equipment to maintain and enhance existing public lands. Neither the House or the Senate version passed in 2022, but Speaker Smith has promised this will be his first legislative priority in 2023.