The bill H. 4728 seeks to amend Section 30-4-30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which pertains to the fees that public bodies can establish and collect under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The key change introduced by this bill is that members of the General Assembly must receive copies of records or documents at no charge when their requests are related to their legislative duties. This provision aims to facilitate access to necessary information for legislators without imposing financial burdens.

In addition to this new requirement, the bill retains existing provisions regarding the establishment of fees for the search, retrieval, and redaction of records, ensuring that these fees do not exceed the actual costs incurred by the public body. It also emphasizes that fees must be uniform and may not apply to records transmitted electronically. The bill includes stipulations for providing records in a convenient format and allows for fee waivers or reductions when it serves the public interest. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/17/2025: 30-4-30
Latest Version: 30-4-30