Legislative Updates 2025

Protecting Land & Water | Advocacy | Balanced Growth

www.upstateforever.org

Legislative Updates 2025 - Week 11: March 24 - 28

Highlights:

SC Energy Security Act (H.3309) advances to the Senate floor for debate
Transferrable Development Rights bill (S.288) advances to full committee
Join us in celebrating conservation leaders at the annual ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon
What to expect this week

Happy last day of March,

During this time of year, you can usually find me meandering through mountain ecosystems in search of spring ephemeral flowers. Respect for our displaced neighbors and for those on the front lines battling the Upstate wildfires have kept me at home, grateful for frontyard dogwoods and the courage of others.

With just seven weeks left in the SC Legislative Session, it's beginning to feel like a sprint to pass legislation. Read below for what to expect this week, including your last chance to reach out to your lawmaker about the Energy Security Act (H.3309).

News from the Statehouse

SC Energy Security Act (H.3309) advances to the Senate

The full Senate Judiciary Committee passed the SC Energy Security Act (H.3309) after considering, but ultimately not adopting, a number of amendments. Senator Jason Elliot (District 6 - Greenville) introduced an amendment that would have preserved a local government’s ability to approve, modify, or deny solar projects, but this amendment failed after a philosophical debate over “home rule.”

Currently, energy projects with a designed capacity of more than 75 megawatts are required to receive approval from the SC Public Service Commission (PSC). Under H.3309, energy projects with a footprint of over 125 acres — about 20 megawatts of solar — would also have to receive PSC approval in addition to local, state, and federal permits. We hope Senators continue to consider the merits of keeping these types of solar projects under county jurisdiction and preserve the solar industry’s ability to add clean energy to the grid faster than any other generation resource.

Another amendment proposed by Senator Russell Ott (District 26 - Calhoun) would have closed a loophole allowing utilities to submit incomplete applications and run out the clock on the new six month timeline on permits for energy projects. The amendment would have also removed a harmful provision that would have limited who could appeal a permit decision by the state agency. Confusion among the committee about current law led to the amendment getting voted down.

The remainder of the amendments adopted by the committee ultimately don’t address our issues with the bill related to permitting, property rights, and how groups are able to weigh in on utility issues at the PSC. The Senate has now set this bill for special order for this Tuesday, April 1, meaning we can expect long hours of debate on the Senate floor.

This will be your last chance to reach out to your Senator about this bill now two years in the making. Please consider contacting them to clean up the permitting loopholes and preserve local communities’ ability to weigh in on these energy projects. If you’re looking for a place to start, the two failed amendments described above would have meaningful impacts to this bill if adopted.

Contact your Senator about H.3309

More Statehouse news

The Transferable Development Rights (TDR) bill (S.288), which we discussed a few weeks ago, passed a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee last Thursday and is now advancing to the full Judiciary Committee. This bill gives clarity to local governments considering TDR programs as a tool for managing growth.

During the subcommittee discussion, members highlighted the bill’s voluntary nature and expressed support for TDR programs that can be tailored to local needs. These programs can help protect farmland and environmentally sensitive areas while directing development to areas with existing infrastructure and higher capacity for density.

Join us in celebrating Representative Patrick Haddon and other conservation leaders at the ForeverGreen Luncheon

Upstate Forever’s ForeverGreen Annual Awards Luncheon celebrates individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions in fields related to conservation and sustainable growth.

We hope you'll join us on Tuesday, April 22 at the Annex at Judson Mill in Greenville as we celebrate three passionate individuals, including Representative Patrick Haddon, making an indelible impact on the region's natural resources — plus enjoy a special reading by Glenis Redmond, whose nature-inspired poetry illustrates the beauty and importance of our region’s life-giving lands and waters.

Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.

The Week Ahead

Thursday (4/3) at 9:00 am – the Joint Surface Water Study Committee, created by a 2024 budget proviso to study the current state of surface water in the state, will meet this Thursday receive an update on the WaterSC task force from the Department of Environmental Services. With the passage of H.3814 by both the House and Senate, this committee’s mission has recently expanded to include groundwater studies as well.

Thursday (4/3) at 10:00 am – the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee will hear from the SC Office of Resilience, an agency we highlighted weeks ago for its essential role in floodwater management and resilience planning throughout the state.

Now that the session is in full swing, stay tuned for opportunities to get involved and learn more about the legislative issues that affect our daily lives. We’ll continue to keep you informed on their progress and ways to get involved throughout the legislative session!

Be well. Until next week...

Megan Chase-Muller

State Policy Director

mchase@upstateforever.org

Odds and Ends and Actions:

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Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina. Over the past two decades, we have worked to protect the natural assets that make the Upstate so special — our farmlands, forests, natural areas, rivers, and clean air. We are committed to ensuring that our communities are vibrant and retain their green spaces, outdoor heritage, and unique identities in the face of rapid development and significant sprawl. Our vision is an environmentally healthy, economically prosperous Upstate that offers a high quality of life now and for future generations.

For more information, visit our website at upstateforever.org or send us an email.