Subcommittee punts golf‑cart night‑operation bill to allow municipal authority and drafting cleanup

Senators reviewed House Bill H3292, which would allow municipalities — and where no municipality exists, counties — to adopt ordinances permitting golf cart operation at night in designated areas that meet safety conditions such as required lighting. Committee members carried the bill to give staff time to fix drafting issues and to allow local governments to weigh in.

David Owens, committee staff, said the bill appears intended to let cities and counties authorize limited night operation in defined areas, but acknowledged the bill contains "inartful drafting" that needs cleanup. Todd Glover, who identified himself as a North Augusta resident and noted he works in municipal government but was testifying personally, said the measure is meant for targeted local situations such as planned events and mixed‑use neighborhoods where nighttime cart use is appropriate. He said local governments would still need to take a second step to legalize night operation after the state law passed.

Glover provided DOT statistics he obtained showing 11 golf‑cart fatalities from February 2010 through February 2023 and said the bill aims to allow permissive, limited local action rather than blanket statewide permission. "This bill is written in a way that also recognizes that it is not safe to operate golf carts everywhere at night that you could during the day," he said. Avery Upchurch from the Association of Counties said the association supports the bill's home‑rule approach.

The committee noted that past exceptions for barrier islands had lapsed and that this bill would not resurrect night operation statewide without municipal or county action. After discussion, senators voted to carry the bill over so staff members can prepare cleanup language and local officials can provide input.

Next steps: staff to refine drafting and circulate changes ahead of the next committee meeting; no vote to advance the bill was taken.