[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325328,"mediaKeyId","2333741-856975476df2ee45ecfa99b29aa1dc17","parentId",2333741,"title","DNR supports drone bill for wildlife monitoring after removing 'relocate' language","audioSeconds",230,"startMs",699920,"endMs",930580,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333741-856975476df2ee45ecfa99b29aa1dc17&start=699&end=930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333741-856975476df2ee45ecfa99b29aa1dc17/thumbnail_699920.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325328/South-Carolina/DNR-supports-drone-bill-for-wildlife-monitoring-after-removing-relocate-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325328-93d38f60080025581d1583f3c1191d59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173025&Signature=UrUwa57HYatnfxVvHGpOXvOItsgHhdh9ssI3XIG7BXLqZrmNHif5-7FQPb7SyM9zaTixOQe5esHye31zas~YJCoARM9JaGQE3xjKcTeWJK823wY6ybGiv69Onr5BCyrkuxygV9y2UwVoFtrZcJsNRrV5-4Bh9mNkq8~frlW6bYIHgJSJTLWWd2zDF2M1xIyhrsggD8sQT5DZXkCXxlM4ZpMlO3u~QvG~4htebWTQtXltL2-B~tKtpOQhoYzHF~KG-qcOoVQ0qgCr19FZPMohYOIN3SljUf18aY3kp7nkiS~9lzkwWi5hGK0eXErfNx2JqJ3Fj9IPLk6oHqSyfdaD2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Wildlife Subcommittee advanced H3945 on a 5-0 vote after accepting an amendment, offered at DNR’s request, to remove the word “relocate” from two sections of the measure.

Chief of Wildlife Billy Dukes, speaking for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, told the subcommittee the department “has no concerns with this bill” as written but asked that the bill be amended to strike “relocate” from section A1 and section D1. Dukes said existing statutes already prohibit relocation of feral swine and that coyotes can be relocated only under very specific conditions; removing the term would avoid conflict with those statutes.

Dukes also told members that when operations described in the bill use unmanned aircraft they must comply with FAA rules and any applicable drone certifications. “As long as someone is in compliance with all their FAA and drone certification licenses, there's nothing currently in law that prohibits the activities that would be allowed by this bill,” Dukes said. He and other DNR staff characterized the bill as providing useful “sidebars or guide rails” for wildlife work using drones.

Representative Gibson proposed the amendment to strike “relocate,” the committee approved it on a 5-0 roll call, and then voted 5-0 to advance H3945 to full committee. Committee discussion touched on enforcement limits and the need to align statutory language with existing wildlife laws.

The committee’s recorded aye votes on the amendment and on final passage were Representatives Heather Bauer, Gibson, Hartz, Hyatt and Forrest.

The bill will go to full committee with the amendment to remove “relocate”; DNR staff said they otherwise support the measure and that FAA and certification compliance should govern unmanned aircraft operations described in the bill.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee February 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The subcommittee advanced H3945, which would authorize certain unmanned aircraft activities for wildlife management, after adopting an amendment to remove the word “relocate” from the bill; the Department of Natural Resources voiced support with that change and asked for FAA compliance language.","taxTitle","Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17488,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325333,"Committee narrows Hunting Heritage Preserve Act to state-owned Wildlife Management Areas",76,600000,676986,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333741-856975476df2ee45ecfa99b29aa1dc17&start=600&end=676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333741-856975476df2ee45ecfa99b29aa1dc17/thumbnail_600000.jpg","/articles/6325333/South-Carolina/Committee-narrows-Hunting-Heritage-Preserve-Act-to-state-owned-Wildlife-Management-Areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325333-76339fae6ea577b1e1fd885971157aa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173025&Signature=VyhNRt9ZTikK6K~MTqxYmiGm8TQIshHdj8y8CMCJAd-YWYxY-It1ZbS9b8uNKj1mmWyB1Aqe2iRWNnjXQOWfSRNm9u6eAGarf7kW6rjIsOVqhJrZHCUN-u0s3E7Y0N9Fsc-ugsrXIxOUNwx1RvR0t1jmIkcKa93cwSQPY2cJAiVRbcGeEhQtgZmWDAJU3AumyxjJP9vSGINGQ~sb387VtjSvyLyS~KBTxmCNFgtC6MNiVrNZ9hosttn-ZSROd-mFilf4ueMb6wSEcPeajNfjSgb22vySIpqmqFJ8AInnPzUAeBBEjiYmKLheUstf0zhyfxuCX6fAMFqV1j2o1smuVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Wildlife Subcommittee passed HB 3872, the Hunting Heritage Preserve Act, on a 5-0 vote after adopting an amendment that limits the bill’s protections to lands titled to and controlled by the state.

The amendment, offered by Representative Heather Bauer, removes leased private lands from the bill and excludes private owners’ ability to force inclusion; after discussion the panel voted 5-0 to approve the change and then voted 5-0 to advance the bill to full committee.

Deputy Director Emily Cope of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources told the panel that DNR “is in support of this bill” but asked the committee to focus protections on lands “titled to the state that are under the authority of DNR.” Cope explained the department manages about 1.1 million acres in the Wildlife Management Area (WMA) program but that roughly 800,000 acres are leased from private owners. “If a landowner decided to remove that lease, then we would be, you know, out of compliance with the law,” she said, noting leased parcels can be ended with 30 days’ notice.

Representative Bauer, sponsor of the amendment, said she wants to preserve public access to hunting and fishing and told the committee she proposed narrowing the bill so it would not try to guarantee use of privately owned leased lands. “I like to propose an amendment that would remove those leased lands and then excluding private owners to choose what they would do with their land,” Bauer said. She also said the amendment removes a clause referencing lands as of January 1, 2026.

Members pressed DNR staff on the acreage breakdown and lease terms. Chief of Wildlife Billy Dukes told lawmakers most of DNR’s leases are three- to five-year agreements, with some longer agreements (for example with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) extending to 10 or 25 years; but DNR staff reiterated the department cannot guarantee access to lands it does not own. Committee members and DNR staff described roughly 300,000 acres as the portion of the WMA portfolio that is state-owned and fully within DNR’s control, with the remainder leased.

After the amendment passed on a 5-0 roll call, the committee approved the bill itself 5-0 and voted to send HB 3872 on to the full committee.

Votes at a glance: Amendment to exclude leased lands — passed 5-0 (Representatives Heather Bauer, Gibson, Hartz, Hyatt, Forrest voting aye). Final passage in subcommittee — passed 5-0 (same recorded aye votes).","The Agriculture — Wildlife Subcommittee approved an amendment and passed HB 3872, the Hunting Heritage Preserve Act, to protect lands titled to the state and under DNR authority; leased private lands were removed from the bill’s protections.","actionData","errors"]

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DNR supports drone bill for wildlife monitoring after removing 'relocate' language

Committee narrows Hunting Heritage Preserve Act to state-owned Wildlife Management Areas