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H 3321

Statement of economic interest

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Burns

SC bill grants an exemption for appointed state officials who do not raise campaign funds from filing annual statements of economic interest or campaign disclosures.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Bill Summary · H 3321

Bill Summary: H 3321 — "Statement of economic interest"

Short title / purpose
This bill would amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to exempt certain appointed state officials from routine financial and campaign reporting requirements. Its stated purpose is to eliminate the obligation for appointed officials who do not raise campaign funds to file annual statements of economic interest or campaign disclosure forms with local or state authorities.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section 8-13-1115 to Article 11, Chapter 13, Title 8 of the South Carolina Code.
  • Creates a categorical exemption: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an appointed state official who does not raise campaign funds is not required to file an annual statement of economic interest or a campaign disclosure form with a local governing body, a county, or with the State.”
  • The exemption is framed as overriding other statutes (via “notwithstanding any other provision of law”).
  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Who is affected

  • Primary effect: appointed state officials in South Carolina (e.g., members of state boards, commissions, appointed directors) who do not raise campaign funds.
  • Not affected: elected officials and appointed officials who do raise campaign funds (those would still be required to file).
  • Reporting bodies affected: local governing bodies, counties, and state filing entities that currently collect statements of economic interest and campaign disclosure forms.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Reduced administrative burden for covered appointed officials and for agencies that process filings.
  • Transparency implications: fewer public disclosures could limit public visibility into appointed officials’ financial interests and potential conflicts of interest. The scope and public-policy tradeoffs will depend on how “raises campaign funds” is defined and applied in practice.
  • Legal interpretation: the “notwithstanding” language suggests the new section would supersede conflicting filing requirements, but courts or agencies may need guidance on the exemption’s scope (for example, whether solicitation of donations for a candidate or a party counts as “raising campaign funds”).
  • Interaction with local rules: the text explicitly removes filing obligations “with a local governing body, a county, or with the State,” which could create inconsistencies with existing local ethics ordinances unless those are also preempted.

Procedural status and timeline (as recorded)

  • Prefiled: 12/05/2024
  • Introduced / read first time: entries show 01/14/2025 and/or 02/27/2025 (records list both dates).
  • Referred to Committee on Judiciary: initial referral recorded 12/05/2024 and 01/14/2025; also referred to State Administration and Regulatory Oversight on 02/27/2025 (record contains multiple committee entries).
  • Senate concurred: 02/27/2025 (per legislative actions list).
  • Hearing scheduled: 09/09/2025, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM (room A‑1 and virtual).
  • Effective upon governor’s approval (if enacted).

Notes and data inconsistencies

  • The provided materials include duplicated or unrelated text (a Massachusetts bill concerning “microphotographic recording of documents,” House Docket No. 1832). That appears to be an insertion error and is not part of the South Carolina amendment adding Section 8-13-1115.
  • Because of overlapping dates and committee referrals in the record, interested parties should verify the bill’s current text, jurisdiction, and committee assignment on the official legislative website before relying on this summary.

If you want, I can draft a short memo outlining likely stakeholder positions (ethics advocates, appointed boards, county clerks) or model language to clarify “raises campaign funds.”

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

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