H 4622

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4622
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
"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 ESTABLISH CRIMINAL PENALTIES; TO REQUIRE THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS, TO AUTHORIZE
PRIVATE CITIZENS TO FILE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS; 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 destroy property.
  (B) Notwithstanding the penalties set
forth in Section 48-1-320, a person who intentionally violates this item is
guilty of a felony and upon conviction, the person may be imprisoned up to ten
years and must be fined not less than five hundred thousand dollars for each
day's violation.
  (C) The provisions of this item do not
apply to any person whose cloud seeding is a result of a publicly approved
contract.
       (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.
       (4)(A)(i) Notwithstanding any provision of
state or federal law to the contrary, a private citizen may file a private
action against the federal government for the destruction of health and
personal property.
  (ii) A private citizen who files a
private action pursuant to this subitem is entitled to civil and criminal
immunity for any testimony provided, including whistleblower immunity.
  (B)(i) Notwithstanding any provision of
state or federal law to the contrary, a private citizen may file a private
action against any airport, chemical or related vendor, pilot, or general
aviation flight company for any action that facilitates or assists SAI
activities. An employee of an airport who allows a plane to land, depart,
refuel, refill, or make aircraft repairs with knowledge of the plane's intent
to perform SAI activities may be sued pursuant to this subitem.
  (ii) A private citizen who, in an
action brought pursuant to this subitem, proves the occurrence of flights
performing or attempting to perform SAI activities including, but not limited
to, the injection of aerosols, is not required to prove actual damages; rather,
a verdict in favor of the private citizen entitles the private citizen to
nominal damages of at least two thousand five hundred dollars and not more than
five thousand dollars and reasonable attorney's fees as ordered by the court.
  (iii) An employee of an airport who
allows a plane to land, depart, refuel, refill, or make aircraft repairs with
knowledge of the plane's intent to perform SAI activities, or who otherwise
assists in SAI activities and flights, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction, may be imprisoned not more than three years.
  (iv) A pilot or any owner or officer
of an airport or general aviation flight company who violates the provisions of
this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction:
  (aa) for a first offense, must be
fined not more two hundred fifty thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than
five years, or both;
  (bb) for a second offense, must be
fined not more five hundred thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten years,
or both; and
  (cc) for a third offense, must be
fined not more than one million dollars and may be subject to a sentence of
life imprisonment, or both.
  (v) For purposes of this subitem, "SAI"
means stratospheric aerosol injection.
SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM