The Committee on Judiciary proposes the following amendment (LC-3047.AHB0001H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

SECTION 1.A. Section 16-11-700(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 (A) A person, from a vehicle or otherwise, may not dump, throw, drop, deposit, discard, or otherwise dispose of litter or other solid waste, as defined by Section 44-96-40(2), (6), (32), (33), (43), (46), (73), and (74), and including balloons that are intentionally released and not subsequently recovered and properly discarded, cigarette butts, and cigarette component litter, upon waters or public or private property in the State for which he is not the legal owner or a person otherwise granted permission by the legal owner including, but not limited to, a highway, park, beach, campground, forest land, recreational area, trailer park, road, street, or alley except:
  (1) on property designated by the State for the disposal of litter and other solid waste and the person is authorized to use the property for that purpose; or
  (2) into a litter receptacle in a manner that the litter is prevented from being carried away or deposited by the elements upon a part of the private or public property or waters.

B. Section 16-11-700 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 (N) The provisions of subsection (A) relating to litter offenses regarding balloons do not apply, and a person may not be charged with a violation, if:
  (1) balloons are released by a person on behalf of a governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract for scientific or meteorological purposes;
  (2) hot air balloons are recovered after launching;
  (3) balloons are released indoors; or
  (4) balloons are released by a person under the age of eighteen.

SECTION 2. During the first one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this act, law enforcement officers shall only issue warnings for litter violations regarding the release of balloons pursuant to subsection 16-11-700(A) as amended by this act.

SECTION 3. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.