UPDATE: Thanks to our efforts and dedicated keepers in South Carolina, this bill died (did not pass) as the conference committee never took it up. Thank you to everyone involved in stopping this overreach.
UPDATE 12:03 PM on May 13: The Senate voted to “non-concur” on H3056 in light of “due process technicalities.” This was good! They may finally be realizing they rushed this too quickly and need to let it die this session. However, it now goes to conference committee and is not dead yet. It may be changed in a conference committee meeting and still passed. Continue to do Steps 1, 2, and 3 below even if you have already done so! Also, be sure to contact the six legislators below separately.
The conference committee will consist of these six legislators. Click the links to see their phone numbers. Click “Send Message to…” to send emails. Sample messaging and Talking Points are down this page.
- Senator Hutto: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0912499891
- Senator Campsen: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0302272691
- Senator McElveen: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1234090761
- Representative Forrest: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0608238564
- Representative Hixon: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0849715808
- Representative Atkinson: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0066477265
The new H3056 will (there is also a link to the full text at the bottom of the post):
- ban the listed non-native venomous reptile species (list below);
- allow for a possession permit for those who register by Sept. 1, 2021. That permit must be renewed every three years at a cost of $100 per person/registrant (not per animal). This is a permit for the possession of current animals only. There will be no breeding, sales, or future acquisitions.
- The only exemption is for AZA zoos.
- Permits after Sept 1, 2021 will only be available for research purposes to licensed medical facilities, institutions of higher learning, and public exhibition purposes to non-traveling, fixed facilities that are open to the public for a time no less than thirty hours per week for at least six months each year.
UPDATE 2:10 PM on 5/11: The Senate just heard the amendment to H3539. It did not pass! The vote was 0-44.
Contact the SC legislators ASAP! It only takes a few minutes! This is a backdoor effort to completely ban non-native venomous reptiles just before the last day of the session. This was done to hide from the opposition and it makes a mockery of the legislative process and American government.
Banned species list:
- ban all non-native venomous reptiles of the class Reptilia belonging to the families Elapidae, Crotalidae, Viperidae, and Hydrophiidae;
- ban all non-native venomous reptiles in the genus Heloderma;
- ban all non-native venomous reptiles in the family Colubridae belonging to the genera: Rhabdophis, Boiga, Dispholidus, Thelatornis, and Atractapsi;
Exceptions allowed only for:
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facilities and some bona fide educational/research facilities;
Contact the legislators! Please do all three steps!
Remember that you MUST be professional and civil at all times. Please edit/personalize the letters.
Please supply South Carolina addresses when completing the forms! SC residents’ voices and opposition are needed!
Talking Points for calls, letters, communications
These can be used to customize calls/letters.
Some apply to both bills and some are specific to one bill.
- Senators just voted NO (a vote of 0-44) on May 11 to almost identical bill language when it was H3539.
- Stakeholders just want to collaborate with SCDNR staff to write a common-sense and rational regulation.
- Anti-venom laboratories rely upon private breeders to supply the reptiles they utilize for lifesaving anti-venom, both for bites and to cure human diseases including cancer.
- This legislative effort failed to complete an economic impact study to show the harms placed upon those affected.
- This anti-American proposal abolished the right for stakeholders to engage in the legislative process.
- This last-minute amendment glaringly reflects everything that is wrong with the American government today.
- H3056 unjustly rips away the conservation and breeding programs from responsible reptile keepers.
- This bill failed to consider common-sense regulation instead of an overreaching ban.
- Legislators were never properly educated on this matter.
- There are logical alternatives to this ban but legislators have turned a blind eye to doing what is right by their constituents.
- Rather than solving any issues, this ban creates new problems including an underground, black market and releases of non-native animals.
- This irrational and illogical bill is bad government at its finest.
NOTE: For Steps 1, 2, and 3 you may also just copy/paste the Talking Points if you have already sent the sample letters below.
Step 1
Email all Senators about H3056.
Go to this link and complete the form (shaded yellow areas) and copy/paste the below subject and message. You will need to do the word verification at the bottom and finally click SEND at the top right.: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=SMEMBERS
Subject: NO to H3056
Message: As a voter, taxpayer, and responsible reptile keeper, I ask that you stop H3056. The bill has not received any forethought or research regarding the unjust consequences. It has been rushed! I feel my rights have been violated and I implore you to vote NO to H3056! No economic analysis. No stakeholder input. No opportunity for citizens to engage in the legislative process. This bill and how it was snuck in last-minute make a mockery of our American government.
The bill does not provide a regulatory or permitting avenue for those working with these species to continue their work. The permit only allows for possession of current animals and not to continue conservation, responsible breeding, and sales. There are South Carolina residents, some with tens of thousands of dollars invested, who spent their money and years of time working on breeding programs with species that would be banned. Anti-venom laboratories rely upon private breeders to supply the reptiles they utilize for lifesaving anti-venom, both for bites and to cure human diseases including cancer. You cannot justifiably rip that privilege from responsible reptile keepers willing to be regulated.
H3056 is a travesty that was unexpected from my state legislators. The bill does not possess the rationale nor logic to force a ban rather than provide the ability for stakeholders to continue with their endeavors. Vote NO and stop H3056 and do what is right by South Carolina residents.
Step 2
Email all House members about H3056:
Go to this link, complete the form (shaded yellow areas), and copy/paste the below subject and message. You will need to do the word verification at the bottom and finally click SEND at the top right.: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=HMEMBERS
Subject: NO to H3056
Message: As a voter, taxpayer, and responsible reptile keeper, I ask that you stop H3056. The bill has not received any forethought or research regarding the unjust consequences. It has been rushed! I feel my rights have been violated and I implore you to vote NO to H3056! No economic analysis. No stakeholder input. No opportunity for citizens to engage in the legislative process. This bill and how it was snuck in last-minute make a mockery of our American government.
The bill does not provide a regulatory or permitting avenue for those working with these species to continue their work. The permit only allows for possession of current animals and not to continue conservation, responsible breeding, and sales. There are South Carolina residents, some with tens of thousands of dollars invested, who spent their money and years of time working on breeding programs with species that would be banned. Anti-venom laboratories rely upon private breeders to supply the reptiles they utilize for lifesaving anti-venom, both for bites and to cure human diseases including cancer. You cannot justifiably rip that privilege from responsible reptile keepers willing to be regulated.
H3056 is a travesty that was unexpected from my state legislators. The bill does not possess the rationale nor logic to force a ban rather than provide the ability for stakeholders to continue with their endeavors. Vote NO and stop H3056 and do what is right by South Carolina residents.
Step 3
Contact (email and call) your Senate members. If you are an affected keeper, tell them your story and how this affects you during calls.
- Find them at https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php
- Enter your street address, city, and zip code, and then hit Find Legislators.
- You will get five results. Contact your state Senator.
- Clicking their name will go to their contact information. You want to email (see below) and call (leave a message).
- Your phone call/message should simply be: I am a South Carolina resident and your constituent who opposes House bill 3056.
- For email: after clicking the “Send message to…” link, simply complete the form (shaded yellow areas) and copy/paste the below subject and message. You will need to do the word verification at the bottom and finally click SEND at the top right.
- For the subject: NO to H3056
- For the message, copy/paste the message below:
Subject: NO to H3056
Message: As a voter, taxpayer, and responsible reptile keeper, I ask that you stop H3056. The bill has not received any forethought or research regarding the unjust consequences. It has been rushed! I feel my rights have been violated and I implore you to vote NO to H3056! No economic analysis. No stakeholder input. No opportunity for citizens to engage in the legislative process. This bill and how it was snuck in last-minute make a mockery of our American government.
The bill does not provide a regulatory or permitting avenue for those working with these species to continue their work. The permit only allows for possession of current animals and not to continue responsible breeding and sales. There are South Carolina residents, some with tens of thousands of dollars invested, who spent their money and years of time working on breeding programs with species that would be banned. Anti-venom laboratories rely upon private breeders to supply the reptiles they utilize for lifesaving anti-venom, both for bites and to cure human diseases including cancer. You cannot justifiably rip that privilege from responsible reptile keepers willing to be regulated.
H3056 is a travesty that was unexpected from my state legislators. The bill does not possess the rationale nor logic to force a ban rather than provide the ability for stakeholders to continue with their endeavors. Vote NO and stop H3056 and do what is right by South Carolina residents. Have a good day.
Step 4 (if the bill passes)
Call, fax, and email the Governor’s offices immediately!
- Governor’s phone: 803.734.2100
- Governor’s fax: 803.734.5167
- Governor’s email: https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/EForm.aspx?__cid=FSL_SC_GOV&__fid=100000
- Lt. Governor’s phone: 803.734.2100
- Lt. Governor’s fax: 803.734.5167
- Lt. Governor’s email: https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/EForm.aspx?__cid=FSL_SC_GOV&__fid=100053
- Lt. Governor’s second email: LtGov@SCStateHouse.net
Just click the link and fill out the email forms. It is best to include only whichever bill number passes but we are placing both number for now.
Message subject: NO to H3056
The Senators voted NO to this nearly identical language on May 11 when it was an amendment to H3539! H3056 has not received any forethought or research regarding the unjust consequences. It has been rushed! I declare that you must veto H3056 if you want to what is right for your state. This bill made a mockery of the South Carolina legislative process and my United States. As your tax-paying, voting, and responsible constituent, my rights have been violated! Affected persons were not even allowed to engage in the legislative process! This last-minute amendment does not possess stakeholder input and appears to have not been sponsored by SCDNR. Affected citizens deserve due process and our rights have been violated.
The bill does not provide a regulatory or permitting avenue for those working with these species to continue their work and responsible breeding endeavors. There are South Carolina residents, some with tens of thousands of dollars invested, who spent their money and years of time working on breeding programs with species that would be banned. Anti-venom laboratories rely upon private breeders to supply the reptiles they utilize for lifesaving anti-venom, both for bites and to cure human diseases including cancer. You cannot justifiably rip that privilege from responsible reptile keepers willing to be regulated.
This bill is a travesty that was unexpected from my state of South Carolina. The bill does not possess the rationale nor logic to force a ban rather than provide the ability for stakeholders to continue with their endeavors. VETO and STOP H3056 and do what is right by South Carolina residents.
bill details below
H3056 text: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/prever/3056_20210512a.htm
Full details for H3056: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=h3056
