Trade commissions

2025-2026 Bill 5681: Trade commissions - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Download
This Bill
in Microsoft Word Format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 5681
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. J. Moore and Herbkersman
Document Path: LC-0606SA26.docx
Introduced in the House on May 7, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Labor, Commerce and Industry
Summary: Trade commissions
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

5/7/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 65
)

5/7/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Labor, Commerce and Industry
(
House Journal-page 65
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
05/07/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS
BY ADDING CHAPTER 80 TO TITLE 39 ENTITLED "SOUTH CAROLINA-BELIZE TRADE
COMMISSION" SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA-BELIZE TRADE COMMISSION AND
PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP AND PURPOSE.

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

S
ECTION 1.
T
itle 39 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:

C
HAPTER 80

S
outh Carolina-Belize
Trade Commission

S
ection
39-80-100
.
(
A) There is established
the "South Carolina-Belize Trade Commission" to advance bilateral trade and
investment between South Carolina and Belize. The commission consists of
fifteen members appointed as follows:

(
1) four members appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom must be members of the
House of Representatives;

(
2) four members appointed by the
President of the Senate, two of whom must be members of the Senate; and

(
3) seven members appointed by the
Governor:

(
a) the Secretary of the Department of
Commerce or his designee;

(
b) the Commissioner of Agriculture or
his designee;

(
c) two representatives from state
institutions of higher education;

(
d) two members representing Belizean-Americans
in South Carolina or Belizean-American communities; and

(
e) one representative from a South
Carolina business organization or trade organization.

(
B) The members of the commission must
be appointed for terms of four years each and until their successors are
appointed and qualify, except that the seven members appointed by the Governor
shall serve initial terms of two years each, the four members appointed by the
President of the Senate shall serve initial terms of three years each, and the
four members appointed by the Speaker shall serve initial terms of four years
each. Members may be reappointed and must include:

(
1) the Secretary of the Department of
Commerce or his designee;

(
2) the Commissioner of Agriculture or
his designee;

(
3) one representative from a state
institution of higher education;

(
4) at least two members representing Belizean-Americans
in South Carolina or Belizean-American communities; and

(
5) one representative from a South
Carolina business organization or trade organization.

(
C) Appointments must be made within
ninety days following the enactment of this act. Vacancies shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointments.

(
D) Members shall serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of
their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise available to
the commission.

(
E) The commission shall meet and hold
hearings at designated places.

(
F) The Governor shall designate a
chairperson or co-chairpersons from among the commission members, serving at
the Governor's pleasure. The chairperson may appoint subcommittees and its
chairpersons as deemed necessary. A majority of the commission members
constitutes a quorum for conducting business.

(
G) The commission's purposes include:

(
1) advancing bilateral trade and
investment between South Carolina and Belize;

(
2) initiating joint action on policy
issues of mutual interest;

(
3) promoting business and academic
exchanges;

(
4) encouraging mutual economic
support;

(
5) encouraging mutual investment in
infrastructure; and

(
6) addressing other issues as
determined by the commission.

(
H) The commission shall report its
findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly within
one year of its initial meeting and by February first annually thereafter. The
report must include recommendations to effectuate its purposes.

(
I) The commission is authorized to
raise funds through direct solicitation or fundraising events, alone or with
other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests to defray administrative
expenses and carry out its purposes. Funds received shall be deposited with the
State Treasurer and allocated to the Department of Commerce for these purposes.
The Department may use appropriated funds for Foreign Operations to support the
commission if sufficient nonappropriated funds are unavailable. Expenditures for
administering the commission and fulfilling its purposes are exempt from the
provisions of Chapter 35, Title 11 of the S.C. Code.

S
ECTION
2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on May 7, 2026 at 2:13 PM