H 4818

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4818
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PROTECTING SOUTH CAROLINA CITIZENS FROM
THE RISKS OF SOLAR STORMS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 29
TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 1 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR DEFINITIONS OF "CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE"
AND "ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE", AND TO REQUIRE THE SC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DIVISION TO PROVIDE DETAILED PLANS IN ITS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN TO HARDEN
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSES AND PLAN FOR ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY SOURCES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR GRANTS; AND TO ESTABLISH THAT THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY SHALL MAKE CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of
South Carolina:
Whereas, modern society
is reliant upon the electrical grid in a manner inconceivable a century ago, as
use of the electric grid touches virtually every aspect of life, from
transportation, utilities, communication, employment, food preservation, and safety,
to critical life-saving and life-maintaining support in the form of access to
daily medications and machines necessary for many to survive; and
Whereas, the citizens
of South Carolina have endured extended disruptions caused by power outages
from natural disasters, however, these disruptions could be minute on the scale
of what could result from power outages resulting from an electromagnetic
pulse, which may naturally occur through solar storms or may be intentionally created
by adversaries intending to wreak havoc on our society; and
Whereas, the State has
a compelling interest in protecting its citizens, including planning and preparing
for known and unknown events that could restrict their ability to access
electricity, potentially devastating their livelihoods and their way of life.
Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of
South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "Protecting South Carolina Citizens from
the Risks of Solar Storms and Electromagnetic Pulse Act."
SECTION 2.  Chapter 1, Title 1 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:
Article 29
Protect South Carolina's Citizens from the Risks of
Solar Storms and Electromagnetic Pulse
    Section
1-1-1800.  For purposes of this article:
       (1)
"Critical infrastructure" means systems and assets, whether physical or
virtual, so vital to this State that the incapacity or destruction of the
systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on the security, economic
security, or public health or safety, of South Carolina. This includes, but is
not limited to, the facilities and assets located in this State belonging to or
otherwise associated with the following entities: federal, state, and local
governments, public utilities, healthcare, first responders, and public
schools.
       (2)
"Electromagnetic pulse" means a burst of electromagnetic energy that has the
potential to negatively affect technology systems on Earth and in space. This
may include human-made electromagnetic pulses and geomagnetic disturbances from
the Sun as seen with the "Aurora Borealis" and its interaction is measured in
nanoseconds, far accelerated beyond that of a lightning strike.
    Section
1-1-1810.  (A)(1) The South Carolina
Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) must provide a detailed outline within
their current emergency preparedness plan that includes both steps to be taken
to harden critical infrastructure from an electromagnetic pulse, as well as
alternative energy sources to provide independence for an extended period of
time should the electric grid be incapacitated indefinitely.
       (2)
This plan must be completed and distributed to all municipalities by January 1,
2027.
    (B)
Any municipality or critical infrastructure entity that complies with the plan
provided by the SCEMD within one year is eligible for a grant to assist with
funding from the General Assembly.
SECTION 3.  The
General Assembly must provide for multiyear funding beginning in the 2026-2027
Appropriations Act to assist entities with critical infrastructure to obtain
and implement electromagnetic pulse protection and alternative power sources.
This funding will be awarded in the form of grants through the SCEMD, a
division of the Office of the Adjutant General of the South Carolina Guard.
SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on December 18, 2025 at 12:30 PM