Voluntary Conservation Easements

2025-2026 Bill 888: Voluntary Conservation Easements - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 888
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senators Campsen and Ott
Document Path: SR-0514KM-VC26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on February 4, 2026
Adopted by the Senate on April 15, 2026
Summary: Voluntary Conservation Easements
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/4/2026

Senate

Introduced (
Senate Journal-page 6
)

2/4/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Fish, Game and Forestry
(
Senate Journal-page 6
)

4/1/2026

Senate

Recalled from Committee on
Fish, Game and Forestry
(
Senate Journal-page 7
)

4/15/2026

Senate

Adopted (
Senate Journal-page 78
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/04/2026
04/01/2026

Recalled

April 1, 2026

S. 888

Introduced
by Senators Campsen and Ott

S. Printed 4/1/26--S.

Read the first time February 4, 2026

________

A
senate
RESOLUTION

TO recognize the importance of voluntary
conservation easements and honor the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses
for protecting wildlife habitats and private property rights.

W
hereas, conservation
easements provide important wildlife habitats on our nation's private lands,
supporting opportunities for hunters by increasing available habitats for
iconic game species while providing many other environmental benefits; and

W
hereas, conservation
easements are a completely voluntary, free-market, incentive-based contract -
the terms of which are agreed upon by the landowner - for the conservation of
natural, agricultural and historical resources on private land; and

W
hereas, conservation
easements protect private property rights and enable landowners to monetize the
environmental and habitat values of their land; and

W
hereas, perpetual
easements ensure that conservation values are managed forever while providing
landowners with clearly defined assurances through written easement contracts;
and

W
hereas, conservation
easements enable agricultural producers to maintain and expand their operations
and pass their land on to their heirs, if they so choose, while benefiting
rural economies by keeping private land in agricultural production; and

W
hereas, conservation
easements also provide capital that enables landowners to grow or maintain
agricultural operations or reinvest in the landscape; and

W
hereas, the Executive
Council of the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses supports the
availability of termed and perpetual conservation easements as an important
tool designed to promote conservation practices on private lands while
rewarding landowners for their voluntary participation; and

W
hereas, efforts to
undermine the terms of existing contracts undermines their intent as agreed to
by the landowner who chooses to enroll the property in an easement program
utilizing their property rights at the time the agreement is made, selling
certain land use rights rather than the entire property; and

W
hereas, the rights of
future generations are important considerations for current landowners,
highlighting the importance for families to discuss property decisions, rather
than undermining the availability of perpetual conservation easements and their
history of success; and

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate the dedication and commitment that
the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses has shown in serving the people
and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
Senate
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
Senate
, by this resolution,
recognize the importance of voluntary conservation easements and honor the
National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses for protecting wildlife habitats and
private property rights.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Executive Council of the National
Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on April 1, 2026 at 9:21 PM