Naegleria Fowleri

2025-2026 Bill 4929: Naegleria Fowleri - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4929
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. J.L. Johnson
Document Path: LC-0314VR26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 14, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Summary: Naegleria Fowleri
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/14/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 92
)

1/14/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
(
House Journal-page 92
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/14/2026

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.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

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

A
rticle 25

N
aegleria Fowleri

S
ection
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 Environm
ental 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.

S
ection
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.

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

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 3:42 PM