News
This bill would reinstate the initial funding source for the South Carolina Conservation Bank and significantly increase this agency’s ability to conserve private land. The Bank is the single most important tool the state has to ensure South Carolina’s most iconic and precious natural resources are preserved and protected for future generations.
The General Assembly, 124th Session, adjourned sine die at 5:00 pm on May 12 thus concluding their work in the second year of a two-year session. All in all, the 2022 Legislative Session proved to be beneficial to our state’s wildlife, particularly shore birds, and good to conservation and land protection initiatives some of which are highlighted below.
The South Carolina General Assembly reconvened on Tuesday, September 15 and concluded the legislative activities for the year on Thursday, September 24. This was a delayed final session because of the truncated schedule due to COVID-19. All of SCWF’s priority bills made it across the finish line in what was a wild roller coaster ride of back and forth legislative activities between the House and Senate chambers. Here is a synopsis of the bills SCWF actively advocated for and a recap of their final disposition by the State Legislature.
Bills were introduced in the House and the Senate in January that would strengthen our laws and give the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) more tools to apprehend and penalize illegal wildlife traffickers. Both bills enjoy overwhelming support, but the House bill, H.4831, has advanced further and is still eligible to be considered and passed later this year.
