South Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL H4010
South Carolina Clean Air Act
Sponsor: Rep Lee Gilreath & Rep Chris Huff & Rep April Cromer & Rep Sarita Edgerton & Rep Adam Duncan & Rep Joe White & Rep Stephen Frank & Rep Jay Kilmartin
Bill Details
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Enacting The "south Carolina Clean Air Act" By Amending Section 48-1-110, Relating In Part To Unlawful Discharges Of Air Contaminants, So As To Prohibit The Intentional Emission Of Any Air Contaminant Whose Purpose Is To Affect Temperature, Weather, Or Sunlight Intensity; To Require The Department Of Environmental Services To Take Certain Actions, And For Other Purposes.
Bill summary (AI generated)
South Carolina Bill H4010 is also cited as the "South Carolina Clean Air Act". It was introduced on 13 February 2025, and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. Similar to H3915, H4010 states that the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broadscale geoengineering is more understood. The core prohibition makes it unlawful to intentionally inject, release, or disperse chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus, and energy frequencies manipulation, in the atmosphere within the state's borders. This is prohibited if the purpose is affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of storms and the dimming of the sunlight. The prohibitions include manipulating weather systems via aerosol injection for the purpose of intensifying the weather to harm persons or to destroy or damage tree farms or other property. The bill outlines several specific exemptions, stating that the provisions do not apply to any person whose cloud seeding is a result of a publicly approved contract or a person that is lawfully crop dusting. Additionally, H4010 requires the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to make information available to the public detailing the harmful effects from released chemicals, and ensures that the state Freedom of Information Act cannot be used to prohibit the release of documents concerning stratospheric aerosol injection or other prohibited conduct. The act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. (Note: Unlike H3915, H4010 does not explicitly include the felony penalties or the private action clause in the provided excerpts).
History
The bill was initially filed in November 2024 and has moved through several legislative steps. After being referred to committees, it was debated and received a committee substitute on February 11, 2025, showing some support. As of now, it has been introduced again and read for the first time, with a new reference to the Committee on Judiciary. The next steps will involve committee discussions and potential votes; the bill is still active and has not yet failed or passed.
- Thu 13 Feb 2025 Introduced and read first time
- Thu 13 Feb 2025 Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Bill text (Transcribed)
South Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL H4010
South Carolina Clean Air Act
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA CLEAN AIR ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 48-1-110, RELATING IN PART TO UNLAWFUL DISCHARGES OF AIR CONTAMINANTS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE INTENTIONAL EMISSION OF ANY AIR CONTAMINANT WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO AFFECT TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, OR SUNLIGHT INTENSITY; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Whereas, the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broad scale geoengineering is more understood; and
Whereas, it is the intent of the State of South Carolina to protect the public health and welfare of South Carolina 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. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Clean Air Act."
SECTION 2. Section 48-1-110(e) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(e)(1) It shall beis unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, negligently or willfullywilfully, to discharge any air contaminant or other substance in the ambient air that shall cause an undesirablea hazardous level.
(2)(A) It is unlawful for a person to intentionally inject, release, or disperse, by any means, chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus and energy frequencies manipulation within the borders of the State in the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of storms and the dimming of the sunlight. The prohibitions of this item include the manipulation of weather systems in storing through the means of aerosol injection chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus for the purpose of intensifying the weather for any reason to harm persons or to destroy or damage tree farms or other property.
(B) The provisions of this item do not apply to any person whose cloud seeding is a result of a publicly approved contract or a person that is lawfully crop dusting.
(3) The Department of Environmental Services must make information available to the public detailing the harmful effects to a person's health and personal property that result from chemicals being released into the atmosphere. No exemption to the state Freedom of Information Act prohibits the release of documents, reports, and other records relating to stratospheric aerosol injection or any other prohibited conduct, upon request.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
South Carolina Clean Air Act
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA CLEAN AIR ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 48-1-110, RELATING IN PART TO UNLAWFUL DISCHARGES OF AIR CONTAMINANTS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE INTENTIONAL EMISSION OF ANY AIR CONTAMINANT WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO AFFECT TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, OR SUNLIGHT INTENSITY; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Whereas, the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broad scale geoengineering is more understood; and
Whereas, it is the intent of the State of South Carolina to protect the public health and welfare of South Carolina 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. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Clean Air Act."
SECTION 2. Section 48-1-110(e) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(e)(1) It shall beis unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, negligently or willfullywilfully, to discharge any air contaminant or other substance in the ambient air that shall cause an undesirablea hazardous level.
(2)(A) It is unlawful for a person to intentionally inject, release, or disperse, by any means, chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus and energy frequencies manipulation within the borders of the State in the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of storms and the dimming of the sunlight. The prohibitions of this item include the manipulation of weather systems in storing through the means of aerosol injection chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus for the purpose of intensifying the weather for any reason to harm persons or to destroy or damage tree farms or other property.
(B) The provisions of this item do not apply to any person whose cloud seeding is a result of a publicly approved contract or a person that is lawfully crop dusting.
(3) The Department of Environmental Services must make information available to the public detailing the harmful effects to a person's health and personal property that result from chemicals being released into the atmosphere. No exemption to the state Freedom of Information Act prohibits the release of documents, reports, and other records relating to stratospheric aerosol injection or any other prohibited conduct, upon request.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.