South Carolina House Bill H4799

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/13/26
• Engrossed: 3/27/26
• Refer: 3/31/26
• Enrolled: 5/6/26
• Passed: 5/15/26

Caption

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-170, RELATING TO CERTIFICATE OF NEED EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT VETERANS' HOMES OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS DO NOT REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE OF NEED.

Summary

H4799 amends South Carolina’s certificate-of-need law to add veterans’ homes owned and operated by the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs to the list of facilities exempt from certificate-of-need review. Under current law, certain hospitals and government-operated facilities are already exempt; this bill extends that exemption specifically to state veterans’ homes. The measure is narrowly focused on regulatory relief for veterans’ long-term care facilities rather than a broader overhaul of the certificate-of-need system. In practical terms, the bill would allow the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to construct, expand, or otherwise operate veterans’ homes without first obtaining a certificate of need from the state health planning process. That changes the application of Section 44-7-170 of the South Carolina Code by adding a new exemption category, while leaving the rest of the certificate-of-need framework intact. The bill takes effect upon approval by the Governor. The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable and noncontroversial. The House passed the bill 101-0, and the Senate gave it a unanimous 46-0 second-reading vote, indicating broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition in the recorded votes. The committee report from Senate Medical Affairs recommended that the bill do pass, further suggesting institutional support. No committee debate transcript was provided, and the voting record does not show any recorded dissent. Based on the bill’s narrow scope and unanimous votes, there is no clear evidence of major contention. If any concern exists, it would likely center on the broader policy question of whether additional exemptions weaken certificate-of-need oversight, but that issue is not reflected in the available discussion or votes for this bill.

Impact

This bill would amend Section 44-7-170(B) of the South Carolina Code, which lists facilities exempt from certificate-of-need requirements, by adding veterans’ homes owned and operated by the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs. As a result, those facilities would no longer need to seek certificate-of-need approval before proceeding with covered projects, reducing regulatory review and potentially speeding development or expansion of state veterans’ homes. The change affects the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the state health planning/regulatory process, but it does not otherwise alter the general certificate-of-need system for other health care facilities.

Sentiment

The recorded sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. The bill passed the House 101-0 and the Senate 46-0 on second reading, and the Senate Medical Affairs Committee recommended passage. Those votes indicate broad support across both chambers and no recorded opposition in the available legislative history. The measure appears to be viewed as a targeted, practical exemption for veterans’ facilities rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

No specific contention is documented in the provided materials, and the unanimous votes suggest little to no opposition. The only plausible policy tension is the broader debate over certificate-of-need exemptions and whether exempting additional facilities reduces state oversight of health care construction and expansion. However, that concern is not reflected in the committee materials or voting record for H4799, which show consensus support for exempting state veterans’ homes.