SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
S
TATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT
WWW.RFA.SC.GOV • (803)734-3793
This fiscal impact statement is produced in compliance with the South Carolina Code of Laws and House and Senate rules. The focus of
the analysis is on governmental expenditure and revenue impacts and may not provide a comprehensive summary of the legislation.
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H. 4001
Fiscal Impact Summary
This bill allows for the issuance of permits for the sale of alcoholic liquors on Sundays between
1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in counties or municipalities where a majority of voters support a
referendum in favor of the issuance of such permits. This bill also specifies the process of
initiating and conducting a referendum on the topic of Sunday liquor sales as well as the
frequency with which the question may be presented to voters and the language that must be
included on the ballot. Further, this bill specifies a $100 application fee and $3,000 permit fee
shall be charged to eligible licensed retail dealers.
This bill will have no expenditure impact on the State Election Commission or the Department of
Revenue (DOR). The commission anticipates managing the provisions of this bill with existing
appropriations. Additionally, DOR indicates that it has processes in place to update its forms,
website information, and system functions, and anticipates that any expenses will be managed
with existing appropriations.
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs (RFA) anticipates that this bill will have a minimal impact on liquor
sales and resulting sales and alcohol tax revenues. Although we anticipate the provisions of this
bill may cause a shift in the manner in which consumers purchase alcoholic liquors, the
provisions of the bill are not expected to result in a material expansion of alcoholic liquor
purchases.
RFA contacted all counties and the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) to
determine the potential expenditure impact this bill may have for local governments. We
received a response from Florence County, Oconee County, and MASC. Responses received
from the counties of Florence and Oconee indicate the expenditure impact will be minimal and
managed within current budgets. Additionally, MASC anticipates this bill may have an
undetermined impact on municipalities if the referendum petition is submitted in a year when the
municipality does not have a municipal general election scheduled. Therefore, the fiscal impact
for municipalities is undetermined.
This bill may result in an undetermined increase in local revenue due to the creation of a new
permit with a $100 filing fee and a $3,000 annual permit fee allowing the sale of alcoholic
liquors between 1:00pm and 5:00pm on Sunday. The permit fee must be waived if the applicant
certifies to DOR that the applicant is the owner of the retail premises for which the permit is
Bill Number: H. 4001 Introduced on Februar
y 13, 2025
Subject: Liquor Sales
Requestor: House Judiciary
RFA Analyst(s): Welsh and Bryant
Impact Date: April 7, 2025
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H. 4001
sought, and the applicant does not have an ownership interest in other retail locations where a
permit authorizing the Sunday sale of liquor may be issued. Filing and permit fees must be
distributed to the county or municipality in which the retailer who paid the fee is located,
pursuant to Section 61-6-2010(B). DOR indicates that there are currently 1,286 alcoholic liquor
retail licenses in South Carolina. However, RFA is unable to estimate the number of retailers
who will elect to obtain the new permit. Therefore, the local revenue impact is undetermined and
will depend upon the number of permits issued.
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on February 13, 2025
State Expenditure
This bill allows for the issuance of permits for the sale of alcoholic liquors on Sundays between
1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in counties or municipalities where a majority of voters support a
referendum in favor of the issuance of such permits. This bill also specifies the process of
initiating and conducting a referendum on the topic of Sunday liquor sales as well as the
frequency with which the question may be presented to voters and the language that must be
included on the ballot. Further, this bill specifies a $100 application fee and $3,000 permit fee
shall be charged to eligible licensed retail dealers.
This bill will have no expenditure impact on the State Election Commission or the Department of
Revenue (DOR). The commission anticipates managing the provisions of this bill with existing
appropriations. Additionally, DOR indicates that it has processes in place to update its forms,
website information, and system functions, and anticipates that any expenses will be managed
with existing appropriations.
State Revenue
This bill authorizes DOR to issue a permit to allow the sale of alcoholic liquors on Sunday
between 1:00pm and 5:00pm by a licensed retail dealer in a county or municipality that
authorizes the Sunday sale of alcoholic liquors by referendum. RFA anticipates that this bill will
have a minimal impact on liquor sales and resulting sales and alcohol tax revenues. Although we
anticipate the provisions of this bill may cause a shift in the manner in which consumers
purchase alcoholic liquors, the provisions of the bill are not expected to result in a material
expansion of alcoholic liquor purchases.
Local Expenditure
This bill allows the issuance of permits for the sale of alcoholic liquors on Sundays between
1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in counties or municipalities where a majority of voters support a
referendum in favor of the issuance of such permits. This bill also specifies the process of
initiating and conducting a referendum on the topic of Sunday liquor sales as well as the
frequency with which the question may be presented to voters and the language that must be
included on the ballot.
RFA contacted all counties and MASC to determine the potential expenditure impact this bill
may have for local governments. We received a response from Florence County, Oconee County,
__________________________________
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
DISCLAIMER: THIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPRESENTS THE OPINION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO APPROVED AND SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
Page 3 of 3
H. 4001
and MASC. Responses received from the counties of Florence and Oconee indicate the
expenditure impact will be minimal and managed within current budgets. Additionally, MASC
anticipates this bill may have an undetermined impact on municipalities if the referendum
petition is submitted in a year when the municipality does not have a municipal general election
scheduled. Therefore, the fiscal impact for municipalities is undetermined.
Local Revenue
This bill allows for the issuance of permits for the sale of alcoholic liquors on Sundays between
1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in counties or municipalities where a majority of voters support a
referendum in favor of the issuance of such permits. This bill also specifies the process of
initiating and conducting a referendum on the topic of Sunday liquor sales as well as the
frequency with which the question may be presented to voters and the language that must be
included on the ballot. Further, this bill specifies a $100 application fee and $3,000 permit fee
shall be charged to eligible licensed retail dealers.
This bill may result in an undetermined increase in local revenue due to the creation of a new
permit with a $100 filing fee and a $3,000 annual permit fee allowing the sale of alcoholic
liquors between 1:00pm and 5:00pm on Sunday. The permit fee must be waived if the applicant
certifies to DOR that the applicant is the owner of the retail premises for which the permit is
sought, and the applicant does not have an ownership interest in other retail locations where a
permit authorizing the Sunday sale of liquor may be issued. Filing and permit fees must be
distributed to the county or municipality in which the retailer who paid the fee is located
pursuant to Section 61-6-2010(B). DOR indicates that there are currently 1,286 alcoholic liquor
retail licenses in South Carolina. However, RFA is unable to estimate the number of retailers
who will elect to obtain the new permit. Therefore, the local revenue impact is undetermined and
will depend upon the number of permits issued.