H 5217 — Deer tags
Last action — Effective date 01/02/27
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
✓Passed House
-
✓Passed Senate
-
✓To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 19, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Henry McMaster (Republican) on May 18, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
-
Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
-
4 sponsors
4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).
-
Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 3 recorded votes 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.
In plain language
The bill changes the number of deer tags issued for hunting in South Carolina.
This legislation amends the South Carolina Code to modify the number of deer tags available for hunters. The changes aim to regulate deer hunting more effectively.
Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-650, RELATING TO DEER HUNTING, SO AS TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF DEER TAGS ISSUED. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
27 added · 52 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Bill H 5217 change the number of deer hunting tags available to residents in South Carolina. Residents will now receive three antlerless deer tags, up from two, while the number of antlered deer tags will decrease from three to two. This shift aims to encourage more hunting of antlerless deer, which can help manage deer populations and support local ecosystems. Reducing the number of antlered deer tags also helps sustain the breeding population, promoting a healthier deer herd in the long term.
2025-2026 Bill 5217 Text of Previous Version (Apr.(Feb.
02,19, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 5217Indicates 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 50-9-650, RELATING TO DEER HUNTING, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ANTERLESS DEER TAGS AND DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ANTLERED DEER TAGS.
5217 Introduced by Reps.
Hixon, Haddon and Forrest S.
Printed 4/2/26--H.
Read the first time February 19, 2026 ________ The committee on House Agriculture, Natural Res.
and Environmental Affairs To whom was referred a Bill (H.
5217) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 50-9-650, relating to deer hunting, so as to increase the number of anterless deer tags and decrease, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
WILLIAM HIXON for Committee.
_______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-650, RELATING TO DEER HUNTING, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ANTERLESS DEER TAGS AND DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ANTLERED DEER TAGS.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on AprilFebruary 02,19, 2026 at 04:0511:10 PMAM
Action History
-
Effective date 01/02/27
-
Act No. 207
-
Signed By Governor
-
Ratified R 261
-
Roll call Yeas-113 Nays-0
-
Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
-
Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0
-
Read third time and returned to House with amendments
-
Amended
-
Read second time
-
Amended
-
Recalled from Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry
-
Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry
-
Introduced and read first time
-
Read third time and sent to Senate
-
Roll call Yeas-110 Nays-1
-
Read second time
-
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Luck
-
Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
-
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
-
Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon · Primary
- Representative Patrick B. Haddon · Primary
- Jr. Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest · Primary
- Jason Luck · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 166 not signed on · 1 voted No
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 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 112 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| % of votes cast | 91% | 0% | 0% | 9% |
How each member voted (123)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 40 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (42)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 106 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 109 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 1% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (123)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does H 5217 do?
- AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-650, RELATING TO DEER HUNTING, SO AS TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF DEER TAGS ISSUED. - RATIFIED TITLE
- Who sponsors H 5217?
- H 5217 is sponsored by Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon, Representative Patrick B. Haddon, Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr., and Jason Luck (Democrat).
- What is the current status of H 5217?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 19, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track H 5217?
- Track H 5217 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on H 5217
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of H 5217
Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →