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H 3564

South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bobby Cox and 5 co-sponsors

Renames the task force to the Military Affairs Advisory Council, expands Aiken representation, and broadens at-large seats to better coordinate state-local efforts on bases and mis

Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
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Bill Summary · H 3564

Summary — H 3564: South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council

Status: Referred to Committee (Medical, Military, Public & Municipal Affairs — committee report favorable 2/12/2025). Introduced: Jan 14, 2025. Effective: upon approval by the Governor.

Main purpose

H 3564 revises and renames the existing South Carolina Military Base Task Force to the South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council and makes conforming changes to broaden membership, formalize duties, and add representation for Aiken County and the City of Aiken. The bill is intended to strengthen coordination among state, local, and private stakeholders to sustain and expand the military presence in South Carolina and advise state leaders on base-related issues.

Key provisions

  • Renames the entity from the "South Carolina Military Base Task Force" to the "South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council."
  • Expands membership to explicitly add Aiken as a military community/county and to add several Aiken-specific seats:
    • Chief Executive Officer of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce;
    • Chairperson of the Aiken County Council;
    • Mayor of Aiken.
  • Increases at-large membership: authorizes six at-large members appointed by the Governor (up from five). Of these:
    • Five at-large members are to represent the designated military-community counties (including Aiken, Beaufort, Charleston/Richland/Columbia grouping, and Sumter) and must reside in the county they represent; and
    • The sixth at-large member serves as the Council chairman.
  • Clarifies composition of the executive committee: chairman; vice chairman (if any); Adjutant General (or designee); Secretary of Commerce (or designee); Executive Coordinator (if any); and the at-large members representing the military-community counties.
  • Confers advisory responsibilities: the Council shall advise the Secretary (of the administering department), the Governor, and the General Assembly on military base closures, realignments, mission changes, and other matters affecting installations and military communities.
  • Authorizes staff support, funding administered by the department, and the use of specialists (with Secretary approval) to develop plans and assist implementation.
  • Requires the Council to convene at least once per year and additionally as requested by the chair, Secretary, or Governor.
  • Effective date: upon Governor’s approval.

Who is affected

  • State agencies that interact with military installations (Department of Commerce, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Adjutant General’s Office).
  • Local governments and chambers of commerce in the named military communities — notably Aiken is newly added.
  • The Governor’s Office (additional at-large appointment duty).
  • Military installations and personnel: the Council’s advisory work targets retention, mission readiness, and quality-of-life issues.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Office (statement included): anticipated to have no state expenditure impact; participating members are volunteers and agencies expect to manage added duties within existing resources. Any additional meeting-related subsistence/per diem is expected to be manageable within current appropriations.
  • Procedural history highlights: introduced Jan 14, 2025; committee report favorable (House Medical, Military, Public & Municipal Affairs) 2/12/2025. A hearing was scheduled for 10/29/2025 (per docket information). The act takes immediate effect upon the Governor’s signature.

Impact overview

The bill formalizes and slightly enlarges the Council’s membership and duties to improve state-local coordination on military installation sustainment and growth. Adding Aiken acknowledges its role as a military community and gives it direct representation in statewide military-affairs planning; adding an at-large seat centralizes leadership by designating the chair as an appointed at-large member. Administrative and meeting costs are expected to be minimal and absorbed within existing budgets.

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

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