South Carolina House Bill H3947

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Filed/Introduced: 5/16/25
• Introduced: 2/11/25
• Refer: 2/11/25
• Engrossed: 2/28/25
• Refer: 3/4/25
• Enrolled: 5/1/25
• Passed: 5/8/25
• Chaptered: 5/16/25

Caption

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-57-340, RELATING TO BIENNIAL CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE RENEWAL BY THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE NONRESIDENT BROKERS AND NONRESIDENT ASSOCIATES WHO SUCCESSFULLY SATISFY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR JURISDICTION OF RESIDENCE MAY BE EXEMPT FROM THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS OF THIS STATE WITH APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION; AND BY ADDING SECTION 40-57-345 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN LICENSEES WITH AN EXPIRED LICENSE MAY APPLY FOR LICENSE RENEWAL IF THEY WERE IN GOOD STANDING, WERE LICENSED IN THIS STATE FOR AT LEAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, AND WERE AT LEAST SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE AT THE TIME OF EXPIRATION, TO PROVIDE SUCH APPLICANTS FOR RENEWAL MUST PAY A RENEWAL FEE, AND TO EXEMPT LICENSEES MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS FROM CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.

Summary

H. 3947 amends South Carolina’s real estate licensing laws to expand continuing-education exemptions and renewal options for certain licensees. The bill allows nonresident real estate brokers and associates to be exempt from South Carolina continuing education requirements if they have already satisfied the continuing education rules in their home jurisdiction and receive approval from the Real Estate Commission. It also preserves existing exemptions for inactive licensees and for long-tenured South Carolina licensees, including age- and experience-based waivers. In addition, the bill creates a new renewal pathway for an expired real estate license held by a person who was in good standing at expiration, has at least 25 years of licensure in South Carolina, and is at least 65 years old. Such an applicant may seek renewal from the Real Estate Commission, pay the applicable renewal fee, and, once renewed, remain exempt from continuing education requirements as allowed by law.

Impact

The bill amends Section 40-57-340 of the South Carolina Code to add a new exemption category for nonresident brokers and associates and adds Section 40-57-345 to authorize renewal of certain expired licenses for older, long-time South Carolina licensees. Its practical effect is to reduce duplicative continuing-education obligations for qualifying out-of-state licensees and to provide a limited reinstatement option for senior licensees with extensive in-state experience. The Real Estate Commission retains approval authority over the nonresident exemption and administers the renewal process under existing fee and licensing rules.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition: the House passed the bill 110-0, the Senate gave it 39-0 on second reading, and the House later concurred in Senate amendments 105-0. That pattern suggests the measure was broadly viewed as a technical or administrative licensing update rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcript was provided, so the public record here reflects consensus through unanimous or near-unanimous floor votes.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The only potentially debatable issue is the scope of the new exemptions: some may view the nonresident exemption as a sensible reduction in regulatory duplication, while others could be concerned about ensuring adequate oversight and equivalency of continuing education across jurisdictions. The bill also extends special treatment to older, long-tenured licensees, but the unanimous votes indicate those provisions did not generate visible opposition in the legislative process provided.