COLUMBIA, S.C. - Legislation to prevent counties from using zoning laws to restrict hog farms failed in the state House on Wednesday but may be reconsidered Thursday.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control implemented regulations last summer that make South Carolina unattractive to large hog farm operations. The agency set rules for separation between property lines, swine houses and lagoons and imposed separation rules to protect streams and other waters.

The regulations also say hog farm operators also would have to comply with local zoning laws and regulations. Five counties - Clarendon, Darlington, Lancaster, Lee and Marlboro - adopted tougher laws, and people in the industry fear that more counties could follow suit.

Opponents of the legislation say it takes power away from local governments.

"It's not just a hog bill or a swine bill or a pig in a poke," said Rep. Bill Cotty, R-Columbia. The measure "takes the first major block out of the whole idea of home rule."

Until the early 1970s, legislators controlled nearly every aspect of county operations, but in 1972 voters approved a plan to give county governments that responsibility.

Wednesday's vote also was interesting in the fact that, for what may be the first time this year, support and opposition for a bill was not split along party lines.

Still, the bill had powerful support from House leaders, including Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville; Majority Leader Rick Quinn, R-Columbia, and several GOP committee chairmen.

Quinn said opponents of large, corporate hog farms won the fight for DHEC regulations last year and now are turning their sights on smaller, existing hog farms. "We're just trying to maintain protection for existing farms," he said.

Rep. Becky Richardson, who ended up voting against the bill, proposed an amendment to curb hog farms by making the foul smells part of the criteria that could be used to exclude them. "There's nothing you can put up to stop odor," said Richardson, R-Fort Mill.

Her amendment failed after legislators from farming communities spoke up.

"Everybody wants pork to eat for breakfast, but nobody wants to have a hog farm close to them," said Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville.

The odors are "a really sweet smell to us," said Rep. Marty Coates, R-Florence. "That's money in the bank."

The bill itself failed by three votes but could be reconsidered Thursday.

Even if the legislation makes it out of the House, it would face a tough time in the Senate.

Sen. Phil Leventis, who supported the tougher DHEC regulations, said he opposes this bill because it could set a precedent taking power away from local governments. "Today the issue is hog farms," said Leventis, D-Sumter. "But tomorrow the issue could be much different."