COLUMBIA, SC  — A major bipartisan push to cut South Carolina’s highest-in-the-nation boat property taxes gained momentum today as the House Ways & Means Property Tax Subcommittee unanimously advanced H.3858 to the full House Ways & Means committee. With over 50 bipartisan sponsors, the bill — led by Rep. Gary Brewer (R–Charleston) — would slash property taxes on boats and motors by 50%, delivering long-overdue relief to hundreds of thousands of middle-class boat owners across the state.

“This is a tax cut for working South Carolinians,” said Rep. Brewer. “The current system punishes families who want to enjoy our lakes, rivers, and coastlines. H.3858 corrects that injustice by lowering taxes and ending outdated double taxation on boat motors.”

The effort also received a powerful endorsement from Governor Henry McMaster, who took to X and Facebook Tuesday night to express support: “S.C. boat owners pay the highest property taxes in America. We have a chance to change that. I support cutting boat and motor property taxes so working families can keep enjoying our state’s beautiful waters.”

South Carolina currently imposes the highest boat property taxes in the United States — up to 3 to 7 times higher than neighboring states like Georgia and North Carolina. For the same boat on the same lake, Palmetto State families can pay up to $2,800 annually, while a North Carolina neighbor pays less than $400 in some counties.

House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford (D–Richland), a vocal proponent of the bill, added:

“This bill is about fairness and freedom. Boating should be about family time, not financial penalties. For too long, the middle class has carried the burden while high-end boats just get registered out of state. That ends now.”

SCBFA dealer surveys show over 78% of boats over $120,000 are registered outside of South Carolina, largely due to the state’s 10.5% property tax rate on watercraft.

The result? Smaller boat owners — bass boats, pontoons, and jon boats — are left to foot the bill.

“It’s embarrassing that South Carolina boaters pay the highest property taxes in the country — over three times more than folks in North Carolina and Georgia,” said Rep. Phillip Lowe (R-Florence). “The high tax is a barrier to the average person. I urge every South Carolinian to contact their legislators and encourage them to lower boat taxes.”

Beyond the 50% tax reduction, H.3858 also eliminates the outdated requirement to title outboard motors, a practice only six states still enforce. This reform streamlines ownership and cuts red tape for boat buyers and sellers.

“This is not a cut for yacht owners or big boat owners — because they just don’t keep [their boats] here,” testified Gettys Brannon, President & CEO of the South Carolina Boating & Fishing Alliance. “We’re being penny wise and dollar foolish on this. We are here for the taxpayer, not for government — and to say loud and clear that boat owners and fishermen in South Carolina deserve better.”

The bill passed with support from subcommittee members Rep. Neal Collins (R–Pickens), Rep. Dennis Moss (R–Cherokee), Rep. Lee Hewitt (R–Georgetown), and Rep. Bill Clyburn (D–Aiken).

H.3858 now heads to the full Ways & Means Committee for consideration.

Lower taxes. More access. More money back in your pocket.

To learn more about H. 3858 or to contact your legislators to express your support for this critical bill, visit the South Carolina Statehouse legislator search tool:

Find Your Legislators

Bill Sponsors Include:

Brewer, Pedalino, Lowe, Mitchell, M.M. Smith, B.J. Cox, Chapman, Davis, Sessions, Erickson, Guffey, B.L. Cox, Hewitt, Teeple, Hartnett, Pope, Rutherford, Brittain, Wooten, Guest, Hager, J.L. Johnson, B. Newton, Bailey, Bustos, Gagnon, Gilliam, Herbkersman, Holman, Jordan, Lawson, Martin, Murphy, Robbins, Ballentine, T. Moore, Montgomery, Sanders, Atkinson, Ligon, Gibson, J. Moore, Caskey, Moss, Huff, Beach, Terribile, Kilmartin, Hardee, Taylor, and Yow.