The South Carolina Tribal Reservation Establishment Act aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding a new Article 3 to Chapter 31, Title 1, which allows the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs to designate certain lands as Native American reservations. The bill outlines the definitions of key terms such as "tribe," "reservation," and "land into trust," and establishes a framework for tribes to apply for the designation of private lands as reservations. The commission will work with federally and state-recognized tribes to evaluate lands based on their historical, cultural, and environmental significance, and the establishment of reservations will require approval from the tribes, the commission, and relevant state regulatory bodies.

Additionally, the bill provides incentives for landowners to donate land for tribal reservations through qualified conservation contributions, which would offer state tax benefits. It also outlines the management and conservation responsibilities of tribes over the designated lands, ensuring adherence to conservation terms and state laws. The act includes provisions for the jurisdiction of tribal courts, the rights of tribal members to hunt and fish on tribal lands, and the eligibility of tribes to apply for grants and funding opportunities. The Code Commissioner is directed to reclassify existing sections of Chapter 31 as "Article 1 General Provisions," and the act will take effect upon the Governor's approval.