South Carolina House Bill H3332

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/14/25

Caption

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-130 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ANNUALLY BY JOINT RESOLUTION SHALL IMPOSE A STATEWIDE MILLAGE ON ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO PROPERTY TAX IN THIS STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING REVENUE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL OPERATIONS AND IN THE JOINT RESOLUTION IMPOSING THE TAX SHALL PROVIDE THE PLAN OF DISTRIBUTING THE REVENUE FOR THE APPLICABLE FISCAL YEAR TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THE STATE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS SO AS TO EXEMPT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO PROPERTY TAX IN THIS STATE FROM PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE IMPOSED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS.

Impact

The implementation of HB 3332 will directly alter the landscape of property taxation in South Carolina. By establishing a statewide millage, it seeks to alleviate discrepancies in school funding that arise from varying district tax rates. The bill also emphasizes the need for equitable distribution of revenues, stipulating that the funding disparity for capital improvements between similarly populated districts cannot exceed fifty percent. As a result, this could lead to a more consistent allocation of resources across the state's educational institutions.

Summary

House Bill 3332 proposes significant changes to the South Carolina tax code by introducing a statewide property tax millage to fund public school operations and capital improvements. This bill allows the General Assembly to impose a uniform millage rate across all real and personal properties, rather than permitting individual school districts to set their own rates. The intention is to create a more equitable revenue-raising mechanism for schools and to simplify the funding process by centralizing authority at the state level for property tax assessments used in education funding.

Contention

However, the bill has sparked debate regarding its potential to infringe on local school districts’ authority to manage their funding independently. Critics argue that by shifting control to the state level, the unique needs of individual communities may be overlooked. Additionally, the bill proposes to exempt the full fair market value of properties from school district tax millage, which could raise concerns over revenue sufficiency for districts that currently rely on local funding for vital educational services. Enhanced state oversight may result in further discussions about the balance between equitable funding and local governance.