South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 3 R · 2 D cosponsors

H 4947 — Charles Ruth, service to DNR

Last action — Introduced and adopted

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 15, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 124 sponsors

    124 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CHARLES RUTH FOR HIS THIRTY-ONE YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

61 added · 5 removed

61 line(s) added, 5 removed.

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2025-2026 Bill 4947 Text of Previous Version (Jan.
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15, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 4947Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)                 A house RESOLUTION   TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CHARLES RUTH FOR HIS THIRTY-ONE YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
  Whereas, Charles Ruth devoted thirty-one years of distinguished service to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, retiring after a career defined by integrity, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the conservation and stewardship of the state's natural resources;
and   Whereas, throughout his career, Charles Ruth served in progressively more responsible positions, culminating in his role as big game coordinator, in which he provided statewide leadership for the management of South Carolina's deer, wild turkey, and black bear populations;
and   Whereas, Charles Ruth played a significant role in providing technical expertise, drafting support, and testimony on more than one hundred pieces of legislation that became law, addressing complex issues involving wildlife conservation, public safety, private property rights, hunting traditions, and wildlife disease management;
and   Whereas, he demonstrated a strong commitment to public engagement and transparency by conducting numerous public meetings and stakeholder forums across the State to ensure that wildlife policies were informed by sound science, public input, and responsible management principles;
and   Whereas, Charles Ruth was instrumental in the development and implementation of cooperative research initiatives with leading universities and federal partners, directing millions of dollars toward research projects focused on wildlife ecology, population dynamics, predator-prey relationships, and disease prevention, thereby positioning South Carolina as a national leader in science-based wildlife management;
and   Whereas, his service extended beyond policy and research to include extensive public education and outreach, participation in hundreds of public presentations and media interviews, maintenance of a law enforcement commission for more than two decades, and service as a qualified expert witness in state and federal courts;
and   Whereas, prior to, and upon, his retirement, Charles Ruth was the only state agency wildlife biologist in the Eastern United States coordinating a comprehensive big game program that included deer, wild turkey, and black bear, reflecting the extraordinary scope of his responsibility and professional stature;
and   Whereas, Charles Ruth's career has left a lasting legacy of strengthened conservation practices, protected outdoor traditions, and responsible stewardship of South Carolina's wildlife resources for current and future generations.
Now, therefore,   Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
  That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Charles Ruth for his thirty-one years of exemplary service to the State of South Carolina and commend him for his outstanding leadership in wildlife conservation, science-based management, and public service.
  Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Charles Ruth.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on January 15, 2026 at 11:24 AM
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Action History

  1. Introduced and adopted

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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124 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 46 not signed on

Sponsors (124)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (46)

46 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 46 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does H 4947 do?
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CHARLES RUTH FOR HIS THIRTY-ONE YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
Who sponsors H 4947?
H 4947 is sponsored by Representative Terry Alexander, Representative Carl L. Anderson, Representative Lucas Atkinson, Representative William H. Bailey, Representative Nathan Ballentine, Representative Justin T. Bamberg, Representative Bruce W. Bannister, Representative Heather Bauer, Representative Thomas Beach, Representative Beth E. Bernstein, Representative Phillip Bowers, Representative Jeff Bradley, Representative Gary S. Brewer, Jr., T. Case Brittain, Jr. (Republican), Representative James Mikell "Mike" Burns, Representative Joseph M. "Joe" Bustos, Representative Paula Rawl Calhoon, Representative Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV, Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman, Representative William M. "Bill" Chumley, Representative William "Bill" Clyburn, Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Representative Neal A. Collins, Representative Brandon L. Cox, Representative Heather Ammons Crawford, Representative April Cromer, Representative Sylleste H. Davis, Representative Chandra E. Dillard, Representative Adam L. Duncan, Representative Sarita L. Edgerton, Representative Shannon S. Erickson, Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr., Stephen D. Frank (Republican), Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr., Henderson-Myers, Rosalyn D., Representative Craig A. Gagnon, Representative Kambrell H. Garvin, Representative Gil Gatch, Representative Daniel Gibson, Representative Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam, Representative Wendell G. Gilliard, Representative Thomas Lee Gilreath, Representative Jerry N. Govan, Jr., Representative Hamilton R. Grant, Representative Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr., Representative Brandon Guffey, Representative Patrick B. Haddon, Representative William "Bill" Hager, Representative Kevin Hardee, Representative Robert J. "Rob" Harris, Representative Christopher R. "Chris" Hart, Representative Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr., Representative Charles V. Hartz, Representative Jackie E. "Coach" Hayes, Representative William G. "Bill" Herbkersman, Representative Lee Hewitt, Representative David R. Hiott, Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon, Representative Harriet A. Holman, Representative Lonnie Hosey, Representative Leon Howard, Representative William C. "Chris" Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Representative Wendell K. Jones, Representative Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr., Representative John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin, Representative John Richard C. King, Representative Roger K. Kirby, Representative Kathy Landing, Representative M. Brian Lawson, Representative Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon, Representative Steven Wayne Long, Representative Phillip D. Lowe, Jason Luck (Democrat), Representative Josiah Magnuson, Representative David Martin, Representative Donald Ryan McCabe, Jr., Representative John R. McCravy III, Representative Annie E. McDaniel, Representative Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis, Representative Cody T. Mitchell, Representative W. Scott Montgomery IV, Representative JA Moore, Representative Travis A. Moore, Representative T. Alan Morgan, Jr., Representative Dennis C. Moss, Representative Mike M. Neese, Representative Brandon Newton, Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton, Representative Melissa Lackey Oremus, Representative Jordan S. Pace, Representative Fawn M. Pedalino, Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope, Representative Luke S. Rankin, Representative Robert T. Reese, Representative Michael F. Rivers, Sr., Representative Robby Robbins, Representative John T. Lastinger, Jr., Representative Seth Rose, Representative J. Todd Rutherford, Representative Richard Blake Sanders, Carla M. Schuessler (Republican), Representative Heath Sessions, Tiffany R. Spann-Wilder (Democrat), Representative Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis, Representative Bill Taylor, Representative James E. Teeple, Representative Jackie R. Terribile, Representative David Vaughan, Representative Courtney S. Waters, Representative J. David Weeks, Representative Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore, Representative Joseph S. "Joe" White, Representative William R. "Bill" Whitmire, Representative Paul B. Wickensimer, Representative Robert Q. Williams, Representative Mark N. Willis, Representative Chris Wooten, Representative Richard L. "Richie" Yow, Representative Keishan M. Scott, Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith, Representative Dianne Mitchell, and Representative Greg Ford.
What is the current status of H 4947?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 15, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
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