Hospitals
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H 5173 — Hospitals
Last action — Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 11, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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4 sponsors
4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote so far.
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 BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-130, RELATING TO HEALTHCARE FACILITY DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF HOSPITAL.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
4 added · 51 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Bill H 5173 primarily involve changes to the definition of a hospital within the South Carolina healthcare law. Specifically, some language was removed while additional details were clarified, which could affect how various healthcare facilities are classified and regulated. This is important because a clearer definition can lead to better compliance with state regulations and potentially improve healthcare delivery in the region. Additionally, these changes may have fiscal implications for state funding and the operation of healthcare facilities.
2025-2026 Bill 5173 Text of Previous Version (Apr.(Feb.
02,11, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 5173Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Aprilbill 2, 2026TO AMEND H.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-130, RELATING TO HEALTHCARE FACILITY DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF HOSPITAL.
5173 Introduced by Reps.
Hewitt, Bannister and G.
M.
Smith S.
Printed 4/2/26--H.
Read the first time February 11, 2026 ________ The committee on House Ways and Means To whom was referred a Bill (H.
5173) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 44-7-130, relating to healthcare facility definitions, so as to change the definition of hospital, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
B.W.
BANNISTER for Committee.
statement of estimated fiscal impact Explanation of Fiscal Impact State Expenditure This bill expands the definition of hospitals in Article 3 of Chapter 7, Title 44, related to the State Health Facility Licensure Act to include REHs.
Effective January 1, 2023, REHs were established as a new Medicare provider type pursuant to the federal Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2021.
This bill will have no expenditure impact on DHHS or DPH, as both agencies anticipate any responsibilities created by this bill can be managed within existing staff and appropriations.
State Revenue This bill may result in a minimal revenue decrease for DPH.
Regulation 60-16.201(G) requires an annual $10 licensure fee per inpatient bed.
If an eligible hospital transitions to REH designation, the facility would no longer have inpatient beds, and therefore, no longer contribute these fees.
DPH anticipates this revenue loss will be minimal as only a small number of hospitals with 50 or fewer beds are eligible for this designation.
Local Expenditure RFA contacted all forty-six counties regarding this legislation and received responses from the counties of Charleston, Dorchester, Florence, Horry, and Lancaster.
These counties indicate that the bill will have no expenditure impact.
Frank A.
Rainwater, Executive Director Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office _______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-130, RELATING TO HEALTHCARE FACILITY DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF HOSPITAL.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on AprilFebruary 02,11, 2026 at 04:1402:06 PM
Action History
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Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
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Introduced and read first time
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Read third time and sent to Senate
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Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith
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Committee report: Favorable Ways and Means
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Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Representative Lee Hewitt · Primary
- Representative Bruce W. Bannister · Primary
- Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith · Primary
- Jr. Representative G. Murrell Smith · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 166 not signed on
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (166)
166 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 166 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 111 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 114 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| % of votes cast | 92% | 0% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (124)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does H 5173 do?
- A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-130, RELATING TO HEALTHCARE FACILITY DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF HOSPITAL.
- Who sponsors H 5173?
- H 5173 is sponsored by Representative Lee Hewitt, Representative Bruce W. Bannister, Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith, and Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr..
- What is the current status of H 5173?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 11, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track H 5173?
- Track H 5173 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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