Illinois : 2023-2024 Regular Session : BILL SB0134
WEATHER MODIFICATION-SEEDING
Sponsor: Sen Neil Anderson
Bill Details
Creates the Weather Modification Act. Provides that any form of weather modification shall not be allowed in the State, including the seeding of clouds by plane or ground. Defines "seeding" as a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds. Effective immediately.
GeoLawWatch Bill Summary
The bill proposes a new Weather Modification Act that would ban all weather modification activities in Illinois. This includes cloud seeding, the practice of dispersing substances such as silver iodide or dry ice into the atmosphere to encourage rain, either by aircraft or from the ground.
Notably absent from this bill: There are no penalties or enforcement measures for breaking the law.
- There is no enforcement process or agency assigned to oversee the law.
- The bill does not make exceptions for emergencies, research, or current operations.
- There is no system for permits or licenses.
- The bill does not require any reporting.
The bill defines "seeding" as weather modification intended to change the amount or type of precipitation (such as rain, snow, or hail) that falls. It does not explicitly mention other types of weather modification, such as hail suppression (techniques to decrease hail size) or fog dispersal (methods to clear fog). Still, these might be included by the general term "any form of weather modification."
The bill primarily outlines a policy position. Without penalties or enforcement mechanisms, violations would not have specified consequences.
History
Senator Neil Anderson introduced SB0134 on January 24, 2023, the opening weeks of the 103rd General Assembly. The bill received its first reading the same day and was referred to the Assignments Committee, which routes bills to substantive committees. One week later, it was assigned to the Environment and Conservation Committee.
The bill was scheduled for committee consideration but was "postponed" on March 9, 2023 - meaning the committee declined to take a vote. The following day, the bill was re-referred to Assignments under Senate Rule 3-9(a), a procedural mechanism that returns bills to the routing committee when they fail to advance from their assigned committee. This effectively ended the bill's progress. It remained in Assignments without further action until the 103rd General Assembly concluded sine die (final adjournment without a date to reconvene) on January 7, 2025. Illinois operates on a biennial cycle, so the bill does not carry over and must be reintroduced in the 104th General Assembly.
- Tue 24 Jan 2023 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Neil Anderson
- Tue 24 Jan 2023 First Reading
- Tue 24 Jan 2023 Referred to Assignments
- Tue 31 Jan 2023 Assigned to Environment and Conservation
- Thu 09 Mar 2023 Postponed - Environment and Conservation
- Fri 10 Mar 2023 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
- Tue 07 Jan 2025 Session Sine Die
Consolidated Bill Text
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Weather Modification Act.
Section 5. Prohibition on weather modification. Any form of weather modification shall not be allowed in this State, including the seeding of clouds by plane or ground. As used in this Section, "seeding" means a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.