Gov. Mark Sanford hasn’t decided the fate of 15 bills legislators left him when they adjourned nearly six months ago.

They range from weighty issues like the state’s economic future to mundane ones such as whether hair braiders should be licensed and farmers should create feral pig populations.

Sanford’s bill-signing and veto pens have not been used much since late September. He’s put ink to 87 bills since the Legislature adjourned, but just eight have seen his pen since late September. That leaves him 15 to deal with.

“The governor is considering them within the time the law allows,” said Sanford spokesman, Will Folks. The governor “likes to see all perspectives, if possible, on the issues that come to his desk. He’ll continue to do that.”

Under the state Constitution, Sanford has five days after the Legislature passes a bill to take action on it during the legislative session. But the clock stopped running on June 3, when the General Assembly adjourned, and won’t start again until Jan. 11, when it convenes. Then Sanford will have until midnight Jan. 12 to act on the bills, or they’ll become law without his signature.

The clock has stopped on a bill that would require Department of Social Services case workers to report animal abuse or cruelty to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or other animal welfare groups. The bill also says the SPCA and other animal cruelty groups would have to report instances of child and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect that they find.

Studies show links between the types of abuse, said Sen.-elect Joel Lourie, a Columbia Democrat who sponsored the bill while in the House. Finding abusers earlier “will keep them from committing one of these types of crimes,” Lourie said.

While Sanford’s office has not said why there’s a delay in handling the bill, Lourie said he hasn’t pushed Sanford to sign it. Still, “it’s somewhat of a no-brainer; the sooner we can get it signed into law and taking effect, the better,” Lourie said.

Another bill transfers the state Aeronautics Commission from Sanford’s Commerce Department to the state Transportation Department. In the House, every member signed on to the bill, sponsored by Rep. Robert Walker, a Landrum Republican.

Sanford’s delay on that “is a little puzzling,” Walker said.

While Sanford opposed moving the agency, the legislation reflects changes Sanford sought, Walker said. The delay may be tied to an economic development project in Charleston, Walker said.

The legislation is an attempt to address complaints that the state’s airports are losing federal grant money and other issues, Walker said.

One bill makes it illegal to release pigs to create a free-roaming population for hunters. The bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Bill Bowers, D-Brunson, said the legislation is aimed at cutting damage to agricultural land.

“They destroy corn and other crops that contribute to the economy much more than having a hog hunt,” Bowers said.

Besides, the state already has plenty of wild hogs, he said.

Other bills that would appear to be easy calls were complicated when legislators added seemingly unrelated amendments to them.

For instance, lawmakers attached hair braiding regulations to legislation regulating optometrists and pharmacists.

While Folks would not describe Sanford’s reservations on legislation, Sanford has repeatedly criticized the Legislature for packing unrelated issues into bills. That process, called bobtailing, has repeatedly been challenged in courts, and the state Supreme Court is now reviewing a legal challenge over a bobtailed bill.

Legislation that would cap property tax assessment increases at 20 percent was attached to a bill that sets procedures for overdue tax collections.

“The governor is continuing to review the bill,” Folks said.

Sanford also hasn’t addressed two bills aimed at heading off base closures under the current round of base realignment and closure assessments. One of the bills also allows military personnel and dependents to have in-state tuition rates at colleges here.

That’s surprising, Walker said. “All that is just to make sure we support our bases,” Walker said. “We ought to be on top of that real fast,” Walker said.