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H 3072

Coroner qualifications

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Todd Rutherford

The bill lowers the coroner residency requirement to be a county resident at filing time, removing the one-year prior residence rule.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 3072

Summary — H 3072 (Coroner qualifications)

Note: The materials provided include two distinct, unrelated draft bills. This summary focuses on the coroner-qualifications bill (South Carolina text dated 12/05/2024). A separate Massachusetts bill labeled House No. 3072 (an enabling authority for a Vaccination Tax Credit) also appears in the packet; see the “Document notes” section at the end.

Main purpose

Amend the statutory qualifications for coroners so that a candidate must be a resident of the county in which they seek office at the time they file for office, rather than having been a county resident for at least one year prior to filing. The change is intended to relax the prior one-year residency requirement.

Key provisions

  • Amends S.C. Code § 17-5-130(A)(1)(b):
    • Current language: candidate must “be a resident of the county in which the person seeks the office of coroner for at least one year before qualifying for the election.”
    • Proposed language: candidate must “be a resident of the county in which the person seeks the office of coroner at the time he files for the office.” (Removes the one-year residency duration.)
  • All other listed coroner qualifications remain unchanged:
    • U.S. citizenship
    • Registered voter
    • At least 21 years old at time of qualifying
    • High school diploma or equivalent recognized by the State Department of Education
    • No felony conviction or conviction for an offense involving moral turpitude under state, other state, or federal law
  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Who is affected

  • Prospective coroner candidates: lowers the residency threshold, allowing persons who recently moved into a county (but who are residents at filing) to qualify.
  • County electorates and local governments: may see a broader candidate pool and potentially different election dynamics.
  • Election and county officials: administrative application of candidate qualification rules will change at the time the act becomes law.

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • Text in packet shows filing on 12/05/2024.
  • The act becomes effective immediately upon the Governor’s approval; no delayed implementation date specified.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Expands eligibility for coroner office by shortening residency requirement — may increase candidate competition.
  • Could affect local representation expectations if candidates with shorter local ties serve as coroner.
  • May reduce administrative barriers for newly relocated prospective candidates but could raise concerns about local knowledge or community ties.
  • Few legal complications are apparent because the amendment is a straightforward statutory change; however, local stakeholders may weigh in during legislative consideration.

Document notes
- The packet also contains an unrelated Massachusetts draft (House No. 3072) titled “Enabling Authority – Vaccination Tax Credit,” proposing a minimum $100 individual income tax credit for documented vaccinations approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. If you intended a summary of that Massachusetts bill instead, please confirm and I will prepare a separate, focused summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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