South Carolina H 3967: Bioenergy; Forest Products

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3967 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 19, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3967

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Committee Report

March 19, 2026

H. 3967

Introduced by Reps. Haddon, Ligon, Brewer, 
Bannister, Forrest, Herbkersman, Hixon, Duncan and Sanders 

S. Printed 3/19/26--S.

Read the first time May 1, 2025

________

The committee on Senate 
Medical Affairs

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3967) to 
amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 48-23-185 so as to 
define "biomass" and other relevant terms; to require that energy produced from 
certain, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully 
considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

DANIEL VERDIN for 
Committee.

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE 
SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 48-23-185 SO AS TO DEFINE 
"BIOMASS" AND OTHER RELEVANT TERMS; TO REQUIRE THAT ENERGY PRODUCED FROM 
CERTAIN SOURCES BE CONSIDERED CARBON NEUTRAL AND FROM OTHER SOURCES CARBON 
NEGATIVE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 
1. Chapter 23, Title 48 of the S.C. Code is amended 
by adding:

 Section 
48-23-185. (A) For purposes of this 
section:

 (1) 
"Biomass" means bioenergy feedstocks from forest products manufacturing 
including, without limitation:

 (a) forest products manufacturing 
residuals including, without limitation:

 (i) pulping liquors;

 (ii) pulping byproducts;

 (iii) woody manufacturing residuals;

 (iv) paper recycling residuals;

 (v) wastewater and processed water 
treatment plant residuals; and

 (vi) anaerobic digester biogas;

 (b) harvest residues including, 
without limitation, trees or portions of harvested trees;

 (c) downed wood from extreme weather 
events or natural disasters;

 (d) nonhazardous landscape or right of 
way trimmings and municipal trimmings;

 (e) plant material removed for 
purposes of invasive or noxious plant species control;

 (f) biowaste including, without 
limitation, landfill gas;

 (g) forest biomass derived from 
residues created as a byproduct of timber harvesting;

 (h) forest management activities 
conducted for timber stand improvement or to increase yield, for ecological 
restoration, or to maintain or enhance forest health;

 (i) biomass materials described by the 
United States Environmental Protection Agency as fuels pursuant to 40 C.F.R. Part 
241; and

 (j) other wood products including, 
without limitation, lumber, crates, and pallets.

 (2) 
"Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage" means the process of capturing and 
permanently storing carbon dioxide for biomass energy generation.

 (B)(1) Bioenergy produced from biomass is 
considered renewable and carbon neutral. When bioenergy produced from biomass 
is paired with bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, the bioenergy is 
considered carbon negative.

 (2) 
Bioenergy produced from agricultural harvesting is considered renewable and 
carbon neutral. When the bioenergy produced from agricultural harvesting is 
paired with bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, the bioenergy is 
considered carbon negative.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on March 19, 2026 at 04:21 PM