Current owners can get permits and must register their animals within 90 days of the effective date.
- Public facilities at a fixed facility that are open to the public for a time of no less than thirty hours per week for at least six months per year; and
- for bona fide research purposes, licensed medical or pharmaceutical facilities, institutions of higher learning, or other similar institutions at the department’s discretion.
Venomous reptiles banned, including hybrids: families Elapidae, Crotalidae, Viperidae, and Hydrophiidae; all reptiles in the genus Heloderma; all reptiles in the family Colubridae belonging to the genera: Rhabdophis, Balanophis, Macropisthodon, Boiga, Dispholidus, Thelotornis, and Thrasops, and all reptiles in the family Atractaspididae.
King cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world. Photo by Heiko Kiera/Shutterstock
You can read the bill and get more details at https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/3937.htm. It was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs.
Sample Letter (be civil and professional)
South Carolina residents may email the entire Committee at https://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=C&C=H2000000050.
Email Rep. Hixon at https://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=849715808.
You may email each Committee Member by clicking their names at https://www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/HouseAgriculture/.
email list: BillHixon@schouse.gov, BillHixon@schouse.gov, elliehayes@scsenate.gov, HeatherBauer@schouse.gov, robertreese@schouse.gov, Pamelamack@schouse.gov, AnnieMcDaniel@schouse.gov, Marysmith@schouse.gov, LucasAtkinson@schouse.gov, PatrickHaddon@schouse.gov, DavidHiott@schouse.gov, DanielGibson@schouse.gov, MikeBurns@schouse.gov, RJMay@schouse.gov, sandrabryan@schouse.gov, BillChumley@schouse.gov, MikeNeese@schouse.gov, AlanMorgan@schouse.gov, lukerankin@schouse.gov, CalForrest@schouse.gov, sandrabryan@schouse.gov, RobHarris@schouse.gov, charleshartz@schouse.gov, Lucyscoville@scsenate.gov, AprilCromer@schouse.gov
email subject line: H3937 Needs Amendments
Representative Hixon and Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee Members,
I am a South Carolina resident and responsible animal owner who wants changes made to House Bill 3937, which bans venomous reptiles. The introduced version is unjust, overreaching, and yet another form of collective punishment that punishes responsible people due to the actions of one person. This bill creates a permit for venomous reptiles, but it only allows current owners to get a permit and keep their current animals. Breeding, sales to other permittees or states, and future permits are not allowed except for a couple of exceptions. Compliance with the caging and reporting requirements in the bill should allow breeding and sales for dedicated, responsible, and permitted owners. The bill could be amended easily to allow invested people to continue their businesses.
Additionally, the genus Heloderma should not be included in this ban. These lizard species are not as concerning as the listed venomous snakes. The same is true for the Boiga genus of snakes, which should also be removed.
Please amend H3937 to allow good keepers to continue working with these animals through regulation and a permit process, or stop it altogether. The caging and reporting requirements will protect biosecurity and public safety. Thank you, and have a good day.
YOUR NAME and SC city or zip code
