South Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL S0110
Air Quality
Sponsor: Sen Rex Rice & Sen Thomas Corbin
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 S0110, titled "Air Quality", was prefiled on 11 December 2024, introduced on 14 January 2025, and referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs. The bill aims to amend Section 48-1-110 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The General Assembly stated its intent to protect the public health and welfare while ensuring authorised state activities are permitted. A key preamble note is the recognition that the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broad-scale geoengineering is currently not well understood. The central prohibition of S0110 makes it unlawful for any person to intentionally inject, release, disperse, or otherwise emit, by any means, chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, apparatus, or other air contaminants within the state's borders. This ban applies specifically when the express purpose is to affect temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight. The act is scheduled to take effect upon the Governor's approval.
History
The bill was prefixed in December 2024 and subsequently referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs. It was introduced in January 2025 and read for the first time, at which point it was again referred to the same committee for further consideration. The bill is currently still active; the next steps will involve discussions and potential votes within the Committee on Medical Affairs. If it receives approval, it will proceed to the wider assembly for further debate and consideration.
- Wed 11 Dec 2024 Prefiled
- Wed 11 Dec 2024 Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
- Tue 14 Jan 2025 Introduced and read first time
- Tue 14 Jan 2025 Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
Bill text (Transcribed)
South Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL S0110
Air Quality
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 110
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
Bill 110
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.