South Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL H3083
Air Quality
Sponsor: Rep Gil Gatch & Rep Brian Lawson & Rep Cody Mitchell & Rep Thomas Pope
Bill Details
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 48-1-110, Relating In Part To Unlawful Discharges Of Air Contaminants, So As To Prohibit The Emission Of Any Air Contaminant Whose Purpose Is To Affect Temperature, Weather, Or Sunlight Intensity.
Bill summary (AI generated)
South Carolina Bill H3083, also titled "Air Quality", is identical in substance to S0110. It was prefiled on 5 December 2024, introduced on 14 January 2025, and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs. The intent of the General Assembly is to protect the public health and welfare of South Carolinians while ensuring authorized activities permitted under state law are allowed. The bill explicitly states that the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broadscale geoengineering is currently not well understood. H3083 makes it unlawful to discharge any air contaminant that causes an undesirable level. Specifically, it prohibits the intentional injection, release, dispersion, or other emission, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, apparatus, or other air contaminants within the state, where the express purpose is affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight. This act is set to take effect upon approval by the Governor.
History
The bill was prefiled in December 2024 and quickly referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs. It was officially introduced and read for the first time in January 2025, at which point it was again referred to the same committee for further consideration. The next steps involve the committee reviewing the bill, discussing its merits, possibly amending it, and then voting on whether to send it to the wider legislature for a vote. The bill has not yet failed or passed; it is still active and progressing through the legislative process.
- Thu 05 Dec 2024 Prefiled
- Thu 05 Dec 2024 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
- Tue 14 Jan 2025 Introduced and read first time
- Tue 14 Jan 2025 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Bill text (Transcribed)
South Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL H3083
Air Quality
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 48-1-110, RELATING IN PART TO UNLAWFUL DISCHARGES OF AIR CONTAMINANTS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE EMISSION OF ANY AIR CONTAMINANT WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO AFFECT TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, OR SUNLIGHT INTENSITY.
Whereas, it is documented that the federal government or other entities acting on the federal government's behalf or at the federal government's request may conduct geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere, and those activities may occur within the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broadscale geoengineering is currently not well understood; and
Whereas, the Department of Environmental Services is responsible for monitoring air, soil, and water quality, and regulating industrial and agricultural emissions into the air, soil, and water within the State of South Carolina to ensure the safety of the public, while not impeding agriculture or commerce within the State; and
Whereas, it is the intent of this General Assembly to protect the public health and welfare of South Carolinians while allowing all authorized activities permitted under state law. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 48-1-110(e) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(e)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, negligently or wilfully, to discharge any air contaminant or other substance in the ambient air that shall cause an undesirable level.
(2) The intentional injection, release, dispersion, or other emission, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, apparatus, or other air contaminants within the borders of this State with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Air Quality
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 48-1-110, RELATING IN PART TO UNLAWFUL DISCHARGES OF AIR CONTAMINANTS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE EMISSION OF ANY AIR CONTAMINANT WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO AFFECT TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, OR SUNLIGHT INTENSITY.
Whereas, it is documented that the federal government or other entities acting on the federal government's behalf or at the federal government's request may conduct geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere, and those activities may occur within the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broadscale geoengineering is currently not well understood; and
Whereas, the Department of Environmental Services is responsible for monitoring air, soil, and water quality, and regulating industrial and agricultural emissions into the air, soil, and water within the State of South Carolina to ensure the safety of the public, while not impeding agriculture or commerce within the State; and
Whereas, it is the intent of this General Assembly to protect the public health and welfare of South Carolinians while allowing all authorized activities permitted under state law. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 48-1-110(e) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(e)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, negligently or wilfully, to discharge any air contaminant or other substance in the ambient air that shall cause an undesirable level.
(2) The intentional injection, release, dispersion, or other emission, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, apparatus, or other air contaminants within the borders of this State with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.