Prohibition of Eminent Domain for Petroleum Pipeline Companies (H.5109 and S.1101)

UPDATED: July 2, 2018

In the 2016 session, REALTORS® championed legislation that would prohibit private, unregulated petroleum pipeline companies from exercising eminent domain powers. The legislation that passed the General Assembly clarified existing South Carolina law and provided for a three-year moratorium, halting petroleum pipelines from using eminent domain to take the land and homes of South Carolina citizens.

Senators Young, Massey, and Hutto and Representative Hixon introduced legislation in the Senate and House to extend the current moratorium from June 2019 to November 2020.

The continuing legislation would keep the ban intact, allowing lawmakers an additional 2-year session to work on a more comprehensive approach to a permanent ban.

We continue to support the General Assembly in their efforts to protect private property rights and stands firm that eminent domain should only be exercised by government entities for public use, and only then in limited circumstances.

The extension on the moratorium is effective as of April 17, 2018.

To view the bill in its entirety, please visit the General Assembly website: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/