South Carolina H 4974: Swatting offenses

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4974 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4974

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 SECTION 27-1-80 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN COMPANIES OWNED, IN 
WHOLE OR IN PART, OR CONTROLLED BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA OR THE 
CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY MAY NOT OWN, LEASE, POSSESS, OR EXERCISE ANY CONTROL 
OVER ANY LAND OR REAL ESTATE LOCATED WITHIN TWENTY-FIVE MILES OF A STATE OR 
FEDERAL MILITARY BASE OR INSTALLATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING OR ERECTING 
CERTAIN TOWERS.

Whereas, the General Assembly finds that the People's Republic of 
China (PRC), led by the Chinese Communist Party, is an autocratic and 
totalitarian government and has been recognized by the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation as a "grave threat to the economic well-being and democratic 
values of the United States"; and

Whereas, the federal government has determined that a number of 
foreign nations are actively hostile to the United States and pursuant to 
federal law has designated these nations as foreign adversaries:

 (1) the People's Republic 
of China; 

 (2) the Republic of Cuba; 

 (3) the Islamic Republic 
of Iran; 

 (4) the Democratic People's 
Republic of Korea; 

 (5) the Russian 
Federation; and

 (6) the Venezuelan 
politician Nicolás Maduro (Maduro Regime); and

Whereas, federal law enforcement and homeland security authorities 
have warned businesses and the public of the dangers of using technology 
manufactured in the PRC, as such technology can be used to steal trade secrets, 
disrupt U.S. infrastructure, spy on U.S. citizens and governmental agencies, 
and otherwise be used by the Chinese government to undermine the interests and 
values of the United States and the ability of its citizens to live in a free, 
democratic society; and

Whereas, the National Intelligence Law of the People's Republic of 
China requires all Chinese businesses to assist in China's intelligence 
operations; and

Whereas, the General Assembly desires to continue South Carolina's 
long and successful history of inviting international cooperation in economic 
development while taking precautions against predatory, hostile interests; and

Whereas, the General Assembly finds that narrowly focused legislation 
limiting the ability of individuals and entities under the control of hostile 
foreign adversary governments to acquire sensitive real property, to protect 
South Carolina's critical infrastructure from cyberattacks and electronic espionage, 
and is necessary and proper for the protection of the state's economy and the 
freedom of its residents. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 27 of the 
S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 Section 
27-1-80. (A) Any company or 
development owned or controlled by a company that is owned, in whole or in 
part, by, or is a subsidiary of, a company that is owned or controlled by the 
People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party or whose principal 
place of business is located within the People's Republic of China may not own, 
lease, possess, or exercise any control over any land or real estate located 
within twenty-five miles of a state or federal military base or installation 
for the purpose of installing or erecting any type of telecommunications or 
broadcasting tower. Any telecommunications or broadcasting equipment in place 
before January 1, 2025, must be replaced with equipment made in the United 
States and installed by a company located in the United States. All 
telecommunications and broadcasting equipment may be inspected at anytime 
without notice for monitoring, jamming, or interception equipment which must be 
removed if found.

 (B) For purposes of this section:

 (1) "Chinese Communist Party" includes 
all agencies, institutions, and instrumentalities of the Chinese Communist 
Party.

 (2) "Company" or "development" means a 
sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, 
trust, venture, group, subgroup, or any other entity or organization, its 
subsidiary, or affiliate that exists for profit making purposes or to otherwise 
secure economic advantage.

 (3) "Military base" includes, but is not 
limited to, Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station 
Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Joint Base Charleston, 
McEntire Joint National Guard Base, and the United States Coast Guard Stations 
at Charleston and Georgetown. The term also shall include any base, camp, post, 
facility, station, yard, range, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the 
United States Secretary of Defense, the secretary of a military department, or 
the Governor or Adjutant Gene