South Carolina H 4929: Naegleria Fowleri

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4929 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4929

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 ADDING ARTICLE 25 TO CHAPTER 55, TITLE 44 SO AS TO 
REQUIRE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF CERTAIN FRESHWATER LOCATIONS TO POST A NOTICE 
TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE AMOEBA NAEGLERIA FOWLERI AND HOW TO MINIMIZE THE RISK 
OF INFECTION, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE A 
STANDARD NOTICE FOR POSTING AND INSPECT LOCATIONS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE, AND TO 
CREATE CIVIL PENALTIES.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 55, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 25

Naegleria Fowleri

 Section 
44-55-2510. (A) An owner or 
operator of a freshwater location where swimming is allowed shall post and 
maintain in close proximity to the swimming location a notice about the amoeba Naegleria 
fowleri and how to minimize the risk of infection by the amoeba when 
participating in water-related activities.

 (B) 
The Department of Environmental Services shall 
provide at no cost to owners and operators a standard notice for posting that 
explains:

 (1) 
Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that is naturally occurring in warm freshwater 
bodies such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, as well as in soil;

 (2) 
risk of infection by the amoeba is extremely rare;

 (3)infection 
occurs only if the amoeba enters the brain through the nose but, in the rare 
case of a brain infection, there is an extremely high risk of death; and

 (4) 
a person can decrease the risk of infection by avoiding water-related 
activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature and low 
water level, by holding their nose shut, using a nose clip, or holding their 
head above water when taking part in water-related activities, and by avoiding 
digging or stirring up sediment surrounding warm freshwater.

 Section 
44-55-2520. (A) The Department 
of Environmental Services shall inspect at least annually before summer every 
freshwater location where swimming is allowed in the State to ensure that a 
notice that complies with the requirements of Section 44-55-2510(B) has been 
posted. If a notice has not been posted, the department shall notify the owner 
or operator of the violation and the requirement to post a notice. The 
department shall reinspect those locations as necessary to ensure compliance.

 (B) An 
owner or operator of a freshwater location where swimming is allowed that 
violates Section 44-55-2510(A) is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred 
dollars per violation. Upon receipt of notice from the department of the 
violation, the owner or operator immediately shall post a notice and pay the 
penalty. If the owner or operator complies in a timely manner, the department 
in its discretion may waive the penalty. Each day following receipt of notice 
constitutes a new violation until the owner or operator posts the notice. 
Monies collected as civil penalties must be used to offset any costs associated 
with implementing the requirements of this section.

 Section 
44-55-2530. The Department of Environmental Services shall promulgate 
regulations and develop guidance necessary to enforce the provisions of this article.

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

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This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 03:42 PM