Tennessee : 2023-2024 Regular Session : BILL HB2063
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 39; Title 42; Title 43; Title 44; Title 55; Title 58; Title 59; Title 60; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to environmental protection.
Sponsor: Rep Monty Fritts & Rep Rebecca Alexander & Rep Ed Butler & Rep Chris Hurt & Rep Tim Hicks & Rep Bryan Richey & Rep Susan Lynn & Rep Debra Moody & Rep Paul Sherrell & Rep Iris Rudder & Rep Michele Carringer & Rep Elaine Davis & Rep Bud Hulsey & Rep Mary Littleton & Rep Greg Vital
Bill Details
As enacted, prohibits the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 39; Title 42; Title 43; Title 44; Title 55; Title 58; Title 59; Title 60; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69.
Bill summary
• Aims and Scope: The bill added a new section to Title 68, Chapter 201 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. The stated intent of the General Assembly was to protect the public health and welfare of Tennesseans and regulate activities based on concerns that the federal government or other entities may conduct geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere. • Prohibited Activity: The law prohibits the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the state's borders into the atmosphere. • Scope of Prohibition: This prohibition applies when the activity is carried out with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight. This covers technologies generally known as geoengineering (such as solar radiation modification) and traditional weather modification (such as cloud seeding). • Companion Bill: HB2063 was substituted by the identical bill, Senate Bill 2691 (SB2691), which became Public Chapter 709. • Penalties (Assumption): The fiscal review assumed that a violation of this prohibition would fall under the Tennessee Air Quality Act. Under this existing law, a violation is generally a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000 per day per violation. The fiscal impact was classified as "NOT SIGNIFICANT," assuming the prohibited action is not currently occurring in Tennessee. • Effective Date: The act took effect on July 1, 2024.
History
The bill was filed for introduction on January 24, 2024, and has successfully progressed through several key stages of the legislative process. It was introduced, referred to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and subsequently assigned to its subcommittee, where it was reviewed and recommended for passing with amendments. After multiple discussions and additional sponsors being added, the bill moved through various committees and was eventually passed, becoming Public Chapter 709 on April 17, 2024. Since it has passed, it has completed the legislative process and is now enacted as law.
- Wed 24 Jan 2024 Filed for introduction
- Thu 25 Jan 2024 Intro., P1C.
- Mon 29 Jan 2024 P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
- Tue 27 Feb 2024 Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
- Tue 27 Feb 2024 Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
- Wed 28 Feb 2024 Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/5/2024
- Tue 05 Mar 2024 Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
- Wed 06 Mar 2024 Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/13/2024
- Thu 07 Mar 2024 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Mon 11 Mar 2024 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Wed 13 Mar 2024 No Action Taken
- Wed 13 Mar 2024 Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/20/2024
- Tue 19 Mar 2024 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Wed 20 Mar 2024 Action def. in Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee to 3/27/2024
- Wed 20 Mar 2024 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Wed 20 Mar 2024 Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/27/2024
- Wed 27 Mar 2024 Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
- Wed 27 Mar 2024 Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/28/2024
- Thu 28 Mar 2024 H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/1/2024
- Mon 01 Apr 2024 Comp. SB subst.
- Mon 01 Apr 2024 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Wed 17 Apr 2024 Comp. became Pub. Ch. 709
Supplementary documents
No supplementary documents available
Bill text
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 39; Title 42; Title 43; Title 44; Title 55; Title 58; Title 59; Title 60; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to environmental protection.
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 709
SENATE BILL NO. 2691
By Southerland, Crowe, Bowling, Haile, Pody, Walley
Substituted for: House Bill No. 2063
By Fritts, Alexander, Butler, Hurt, Tim Hicks, Richey, Lynn, Moody, Sherrell, Rudder, Garringer, Davis, Hulsey, Littleton, Vital
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 39; Title 42; Title 43; Title 44; Title 55; Title 58; Title 59; Title 60; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to environmental protection.
WHEREAS, it is documented that the federal government or other entities acting on the federal government's behalf or at the federal government's request may conduct geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere, and those activities may occur within the State of Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, the risk to human health and environmental welfare from broad scale geoengineering is currently not well understood; and
WHEREAS, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is responsible for monitoring air, soil, and water quality, and regulating industrial and agricultural emissions into the air, soil, and water within the State of Tennessee to ensure the safety of the public, while not impeding agriculture or commerce within the state; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of this General Assembly to protect the public health and welfare of Tennesseans while allowing all authorized activities permitted under state law; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 201, Part 1, is amended by adding the following as a new section:
The intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2024, the public welfare requiring it.