Subcommittee raises eviction filing fee to $75 and gives favorable report to magistrate-fees bill

The Constitutional Law Subcommittee on Friday adopted an amendment that raises South Carolina's eviction filing fee and gave H.4813, a bill that updates multiple magistrate filing fees and costs, a favorable report as amended.

Representative Wetmore, who offered the amendment, said South Carolina's eviction filing fee is "the lowest in the country by miles" and proposed increasing the fee to $75; she explained she selected $75 to keep the state on the low end of Southeastern eviction fees. When Chairman Newton asked "Why 75?" Wetmore replied she intended a middle-ground figure and cited interstate comparisons: "Alabama starts at 85. Louisiana is a 100. Florida is a 185. North Carolina is a 126." She framed the change as intended to "reduce frivolous filings" and to curb eviction filings tied to an affordability crisis.

Chairman Newton noted that many of the fees covered by H.4813 have not been updated since 2000 and some go back to 1988. The Wetmore amendment was adopted by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the transcript.

On roll call the subcommittee reported H.4813 as amended favorably; the chair announced "a favorable report as amended with 4 in favor and 1 not voting." Representative Jordan answered "Aye" and Representative Newton answered "Aye" during the roll call that is captured in the transcript; the record does not list all individual responses for the remaining votes.

The amendment and favorable subcommittee report send H.4813 forward in the legislative process; the transcript does not record subsequent floor action or an enacted law.