summary
Introduced
01/29/2026
01/29/2026
In Committee
01/29/2026
01/29/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 57-1-410, Relating To The Secretary Of The Department Of Transportation, So As To Provide That The Governor Shall Appoint The Secretary Instead Of The Commission Of The Department Of Transportation; By Amending Section 1-30-10, Relating To The Departments Of State Government And Their Governing Bodies, So As To Delete The Provision That Provides That Part Of The Governing Body Of The Department Of Transportation Is A Seven-member Commission; By Amending Section 1-30-105, Relating To The Establishment Of The Department Of Transportation, So As To Provide That The Governing Authority Of The Department Of Transportation Is The Secretary Of Transportation; By Amending Section 11-43-140, Relating To The Board Of Directors Of The Transportation Infrastructure Bank, So As To Remove The Chairman Of The Department Of Transportation Commission As A Director, And To Provide That The Secretary Of Transportation Is A Member Of The Board; By Amending Sections 57-1-10, 57-1-40, 57-1-370, And 57-1-430, All Relating To The Establishment Of The Department Of Transportation, And Its Duties And Responsibilities, So As To Eliminate The Department Of Transportation Commission And Its Responsibilities, To Allow The Governor To Appoint The Secretary Of Transportation And Require The Department Of Transportation Submit To The General Assembly An Itemized Project List To Be Funded For The Fiscal Year In Which The General Assembly Would Enact Its Annual General Appropriations Act; By Amending Section 57-3-50, Relating To The Establishment Of Highway Districts, So As To Substitute The Term "department" For The Term "commission"; By Amending Section 57-1-90, Relating To Motorcycles, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Section 57-3-210, Relating To The Department Of Transportation Contracting With Public Transit Systems, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Section 57-3-700, Relating To The Department Of Transportation Serving As An Agent For Counties, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Section 57-5-50, Relating To The Transfer Of Certain Roads, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Section 57-5-90, Relating To Belt Lines And Spurs, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Section 57-5-340, Relating To The Disposition Of Real Estate, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Sections 57-13-10, 57-13-20, 57-13-40, And 57-13-50, All Relating To Bridges, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Section 57-25-120, Relating To Definitions, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Sections 57-25-140, 57-25-150, 57-25-170, 57-25-200, And 57-25-210, All Relating To Signs Along The Highways, So As To Make A Conforming Change; By Amending Sections 57-1-310 And 57-1-330, Both Relating To The Composition Of The Commission Of The Department Of Transportation, So As To Remove At-large Members; By Amending Article 9, Chapter 5, Title 57, Relating To Turnpike Projects, So As To Authorize Certain Designations Of Turnpike Facilities, To Provide That Turnpike Bonds Are Special Limited Obligations Of The State As Specified In The Bond Resolution, And To Make Conforming Changes; By Adding Section 57-1-25 So As To Establish The Coordinating Council For Transportation And Mobility And To Set Forth Its Duties And Membership; By Adding Section 57-5-105 So As To Require The Department Of Transportation To Transfer Ownership Of Certain Nonessential Roads, To Establish The System Realignment Fund To Aid In The Transfer, And To Provide Additional Authorities To Counties In Which All Such Nonessential Roads Have Been Transferred; By Amending Section 57-1-360, Relating To The Chief Internal Auditor Of The Department Of Transportation, So As To Authorize A Certified Internal Auditor And A Certified Fraud Examiner To Hold The Position; By Amending Section 57-3-20, Relating To The Division Deputy Directors Of The Department Of Transportation, So As To Designate Such Officials As Deputy Secretaries And To Establish The Deputy Secretary For Planning; By Amending Section 11-35-710, Relating To Certain Transportation Exemptions To The Procurement Code, So As To Further Define The Exemptions; By Adding Sections 57-5-1710 And 57-5-1720 So As To Provide For Phased Design-build Contractors And Construction Manager/general Contractors; By Adding Section 57-3-790 So As To Specify The Conditions In Which The State Waives Its Immunity Under The Eleventh Amendment Of The United States Constitution; By Amending Sections 57-5-820 And 57-5-830, Both Relating To Municipalities And Roadwork, So As To Specify Procedures When A Municipality Objects To Certain Roadwork; By Amending Section 57-3-615, Relating To Highway Tolls, So As To Specify The Conditions Under Which A Toll May Be Imposed On A State Highway; By Adding Sections 57-3-240 And 57-3-250 So As To Authorize The Department Of Transportation To Enter Into Reciprocal Agreements With Other Jurisdictions And Public-private Partnerships, And To Specify Conditions Of Such Agreements; By Amending Section 12-28-2740, Relating To "c" Funds, So As To Increase The Amount Of Such Funds, To Specify The Membership And Responsibilities Of County Transportation Committees, To Provide For Bonding Of "c" Funds, To Delete Provisions, And To Provide For A Crime Regarding Undue Influence On Certain Officials; By Amending Section 12-28-2920, Relating To Tolls, So As To Specify When Toll Revenues May Be Expended; By Amending Section 56-3-645, Relating To A Road Use Fee, So As To Increase The Amount Of The Alternate Fuel Fee And Credit The Revenue To The State Highway Fund; By Adding Section 12-28-360 So As To Impose A Tax On Electricity Consumed When Using Certain Public Vehicle Charging Stations; And By Amending Section 57-11-210, Relating To Definitions For Purposes Of State Highway Bonds, So As To Define "alternative Fuel Fees".
AI Summary
This bill significantly reforms the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) by shifting its leadership structure and expanding its operational authorities. Key provisions include the Governor appointing the Secretary of Transportation, replacing the previous commission-based appointment, and establishing the Secretary as the sole governing authority of the DOT. The bill also eliminates the seven-member DOT Commission and its responsibilities, streamlines various DOT operations by replacing "commission" with "department" in relevant statutes, and creates a new Coordinating Council for Transportation and Mobility to oversee statewide transportation planning and policy. Furthermore, it allows the DOT to enter into public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects, authorizes more flexible tolling strategies on turnpike facilities, and increases fees for alternative fuel vehicles while imposing a new tax on electricity used at public EV charging stations, with revenues directed to the State Highway Fund. The bill also introduces provisions for transferring nonessential roads to local governments, establishes a System Realignment Fund to aid in this process, and allows for phased design-build and construction manager/general contractor project delivery methods. Finally, it clarifies procedures for municipal objections to roadwork, waives state immunity under certain federal environmental review conditions, and makes conforming changes across numerous transportation-related statutes.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (48)
Shannon Erickson (R)*,
Bruce Bannister (R),
Phillip Bowers (R),
Jeff Bradley (R),
Gary Brewer (R),
Case Brittain (R),
Don Chapman (R),
Heather Crawford (R),
Sylleste Davis (R),
Cal Forrest (R),
Craig Gagnon (R),
Kambrell Garvin (D),
Doug Gilliam (R),
Val Guest (R),
Brandon Guffey (R),
Patrick Haddon (R),
Bill Hager (R),
Charles Hartz (R),
Bill Herbkersman (R),
Lee Hewitt (R),
Davey Hiott (R),
Bill Hixon (R),
Jeff Johnson (R),
Jay Jordan (R),
Roger Kirby (D),
Kathy Landing (R),
Randy Ligon (R),
David Martin (R),
Tim McGinnis (R),
Cody Mitchell (R),
Scott Montgomery (R),
Brandon Newton (R),
Weston Newton (R),
Melissa Oremus (R),
Fawn Pedalino (R),
Tommy Pope (R),
Luke Rankin (R),
Robby Robbins (R),
Heath Sessions (R),
Mark Smith (R),
Murrell Smith (R),
Leon Stavrinakis (D),
Bill Taylor (R),
James Teeple (R),
David Vaughan (R),
Bill Whitmire (R),
Mark Willis (R),
Chris Wooten (R),
Last Action
Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Moss (on 04/14/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=5071&session=126&summary=B |
| Fiscal Note - H5071 2026-04-01 Amended | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/H5071%202026-04-01%20amended.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/5071_20260402.htm |
| Fiscal Note - H5071 2026-01-29 Introduced | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/H5071%202026-01-29%20introduced.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/5071_20260129.htm |
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