Energy

2025-2026 Bill 5216: Energy - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 5216
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Chapman, Brewer, Sessions, Gagnon, Sanders, Hager, Vaughan, Ligon, M.M. Smith, Kirby and Teeple
Document Path: LC-0199PH26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 19, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on April 30, 2026
Last Amended on April 15, 2026

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Energy
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/19/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 15
)

2/19/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Labor, Commerce and Industry
(
House Journal-page 15
)

4/2/2026

House

Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Labor, Commerce and Industry
(
House Journal-page 18
)

4/13/2026

Scrivener's error corrected

4/14/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ligon

4/15/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.
Smith, Kirby, Teeple

4/15/2026

House

Amended (
House Journal-page 35
)

4/15/2026

House

Requests for debate-Rep(s). Cromer, Harris,
White, Kilmartin, Edgerton, Frank, Gilreath,
Morgan, Beach (
House Journal-page 35
)

4/23/2026

House

Debate adjourned (
House Journal-page 170
)

4/29/2026

House

Read second time (
House Journal-page 153
)

4/29/2026

House

Roll call Yeas-88 Nays-20 (
House Journal-page 154
)

4/30/2026

Scrivener's error corrected

4/30/2026

House

Read third time and sent to Senate (
House Journal-page 125
)

4/30/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 8
)

4/30/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
Senate Journal-page 8
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/19/2026
04/02/2026
04/13/2026
04/15/2026
04/15/2026-A
04/29/2026
04/30/2026

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Amended

April 29, 2026

H. 5216

Introduced by Reps. Chapman, Brewer, Sessions,
Gagnon, Sanders, Hager, Vaughan, Ligon, M. M. Smith, Kirby and Teeple

S. Printed 4/29/26--H. [SEC
4/30/2026 10:52 AM]

Read the first time February 19, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION
6-10-30
, RELATING TO THE ADOPTION OF THE 2009 EDITION OF THE ENERGY
CONSERVATION CODE, SO AS TO LIMIT ITS APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCTION FALLING
WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION
6-10-40
, RELATING TO APPEAL BY LOCAL JURISDICTION FOR VARIANCE TO THE SOUTH
CAROLINA BUILDING CODES COUNCIL, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT STATEWIDE MODIFICATIONS
NOT FALLING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE MAY BE MADE
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER BUILDING CODES.

Amend Title To Conform

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
6-10-30
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
6-10-30
. The 2009 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code is
adopted as the Energy Standard
for construction that falls
within the scope of the International Residential Code. For all other types of
construction, the edition of the International Energy Conservation Code is
subject to adoption by the South Carolina Codes Council in accordance with
Section
6-9-50
as the Energy Standard
.
All new and
renovated buildings and additions constructed within the State must comply with
this standard.

S
ECTION 2.
S
ection
6-10-40
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
6-10-40
.
(
A)
A local jurisdiction may appeal to the South Carolina
Building Codes Council for a variance from the Energy Standard for application
within its jurisdiction based on special local conditions. The council may
approve variations if it is established to the council's satisfaction that the
proposed variance:

(
1)
is consistent with this chapter, so that its application will not reduce
statewide uniformity of effective energy conservation;

(
2)
does not discriminate against particular technologies, techniques, or
materials;

(
3)
does not unnecessarily increase the cost of construction and operation of the
building in the jurisdiction; or

(
4)
is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare within the
jurisdiction.

(
B)
Copies of an approved
variance must be provided upon the request by the State Energy Office.

(
C) Statewide modifications to the
Energy Standard for construction not falling within the scope of the
International Residential Code, including emergency modifications, may be made
in the same manner as other building codes adopted by the South Carolina
Building Codes Council pursuant to Chapter 9, Title 6.

S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor. The International Energy Conservation Code is effective upon
adoption by the South Carolina Building Codes Council during its established
review cycle and codification of amendments or modifications in accordance with
Section
1-23-90
of the S.C. Code of Laws.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on April 30, 2026 at 10:53 AM