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Committee backs bill barring local zoning from blocking events on state university campuses
Summary
S.832 would prohibit counties or municipalities from using zoning to stop events on state-supported higher-education campuses when the institution's governing board approves the event; the committee reported the bill favorably with no opposition and noted the University of South Carolina does not oppose the measure.
A Senate committee voted to send Senate Bill 832 to the full Senate after the author said the bill would prevent local zoning ordinances from being used to prohibit events held on state‑supported institutions of higher learning when those events have governing‑board approval.
Senator Sutton, the bill’s author, told the committee the measure is limited to events and would not affect enforcement of safety or public‑safety codes such as occupancy, fire marshal requirements or traffic control. He cited practical examples, including longstanding events at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium, and said the bill would preserve a university’s ability to generate revenue from approved events.
The chair reported that the University of South Carolina does not oppose the bill and that no fiscal impact was identified. The committee moved and voted to report S.832 favorably to the full Senate with no opposition recorded.
The bill’s author and supporters said the measure is narrowly drawn to respect safety rules while removing zoning as a basis to block campus events that are approved internally by governing boards.
