Utah : 2025 Regular Session : BILL SB0126
Airborne Chemicals Amendments
Sponsor: Sen Ronald Winterton & Rep Rex Shipp
Bill Details
Airborne Chemicals Amendments
GeoLawWatch Bill Summary
Prohibition: The bill would have made it illegal for aircraft owners or operators in Utah to use or allow the use of aircraft to cause weather geoengineering intentionally. This means changing the atmosphere’s makeup, behaviour, or movement by managing solar radiation. Examples include releasing, injecting, or spreading chemicals to block sunlight from reaching the lower atmosphere or ground.
Crime: Breaking this law would be a third-degree felony. This is a more serious charge than the usual class B misdemeanour for other rules under Title 72, Chapter 10.
Exemption: Traditional cloud seeding is not considered weather geoengineering. It is allowed under Title 73, Chapter 15 (Modification of Weather). Cloud seeding is the addition of substances to clouds to help produce rain or snow. It does not change the overall makeup of the atmosphere like geoengineering does.
Reports: The Department of Transportation would need to make an online way for people to report possible weather geoengineering. If a report seems believable, the department would send it to the Utah Attorney General.
Enforcement: The bill does not include any special enforcement tools besides criminal charges. There are no civil fines, court orders, or aircraft seizures.
History
SB0126 was introduced on January 21, 2025, by Senator Ronald Winterton with Representative Rex Shipp as House sponsor. The bill moved efficiently through the Senate, receiving committee substitution and a favourable recommendation from the Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee on February 5. After brief circling procedures on the second and third readings, the Senate passed the bill on February 24.
The House received the bill on February 25 and assigned it to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee, which recommended a third substitute version on February 27. The committee's substitute returned to the Rules Committee due to fiscal impact, then advanced to the House third reading calendar on March 3. However, on March 7—the final day of Utah's 2025 legislative session—the House struck the enacting clause, effectively killing the bill. When a legislature strikes the enacting clause, it removes the provision that would make the bill law upon the governor's signature, rendering the entire measure void. The bill was returned to the Senate and filed as legislation not passed.
- Thu 16 Jan 2025 Bill Numbered but not Distributed in Legislative Research and General Counsel
- Thu 16 Jan 2025 Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed in Legislative Research and General Counsel
- Mon 20 Jan 2025 Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research in Waiting for Introduction in the Senate
- Tue 21 Jan 2025 Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst in Waiting for Introduction in the Senate
- Tue 21 Jan 2025 Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) in Senate Rules Committee
- Thu 30 Jan 2025 Senate/ to standing committee in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
- Wed 05 Feb 2025 Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
- Wed 05 Feb 2025 Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
- Thu 06 Feb 2025 Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
- Thu 06 Feb 2025 Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
- Fri 14 Feb 2025 Senate/ 2nd reading in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
- Fri 14 Feb 2025 Senate/ circled in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
- Fri 21 Feb 2025 Senate/ uncircled in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
- Fri 21 Feb 2025 Senate/ floor amendment in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
- Fri 21 Feb 2025 Senate/ passed 2nd reading in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mon 24 Feb 2025 Senate/ 3rd reading in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mon 24 Feb 2025 Senate/ circled in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mon 24 Feb 2025 Senate/ uncircled in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mon 24 Feb 2025 Senate/ passed 3rd reading in Clerk of the House
- Mon 24 Feb 2025 Senate/ to House in Clerk of the House
- Mon 24 Feb 2025 House/ received from Senate in Clerk of the House
- Tue 25 Feb 2025 House/ 1st reading (Introduced) in House Rules Committee
- Wed 26 Feb 2025 House/ to standing committee in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
- Thu 27 Feb 2025 House Comm - Substitute Recommendation in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
- Thu 27 Feb 2025 House Comm - Favorable Recommendation in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
- Fri 28 Feb 2025 House/ comm rpt/ substituted in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
- Fri 28 Feb 2025 House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact in House Rules Committee
- Mon 03 Mar 2025 House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar in House 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate bills
- Mon 03 Mar 2025 House/ 2nd reading in House 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate bills
- Tue 04 Mar 2025 House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules in House Rules Committee
- Fri 07 Mar 2025 House/ strike enacting clause in Clerk of the House
- Fri 07 Mar 2025 House/ to Senate in Senate Secretary
- Fri 07 Mar 2025 Senate/ received from House in Senate Secretary
- Fri 07 Mar 2025 Senate/ filed in Senate file for bills not passed
Consolidated Bill Text
Bridger Bolinder proposes the following substitute bill:
Airborne Chemicals Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton
House Sponsor: Rex P. Shipp
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses the release of airborne chemicals.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
â–¸ defines terms;
â–¸ prohibits the release of chemicals or substances from an aircraft for the purpose of weather geoengineering;
â–¸ provides a means for the public to submit information regarding suspected weather geoengineering;
â–¸ requires the Department of Transportation to report credible instances of suspected weather geoengineering to the Utah Attorney General; and
â–¸ makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
72-10-120, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 140
ENACTS:
72-10-134, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 72-10-120 is amended to read:
72-10-120. Violations -- Penalty.
Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person who fails to comply with the requirements of or violates any provision of this part is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
Section 2. Section 72-10-134 is enacted to read:
72-10-134. Restrictions on release of chemicals for weather geoengineering -- Criminal penalty.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Solar radiation management" means the release, injection, or dispersing of chemicals to artificially reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's lower atmosphere or surface.
(b)(i) "Weather geoengineering" means the modification of the composition, behavior, or dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere by solar radiation management.
(ii) "Weather geoengineering" does not include activities described in Title 73, Chapter 15, Modification of Weather.
(2)(a) It is unlawful for an owner or operator of an aircraft to use or authorize the use of the aircraft in this state with the intent to cause weather geoengineering.
(b) A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a third degree felony.
(3) The department shall:
(a) provide a means for a member of the public to electronically submit information regarding suspected weather geoengineering activity; and
(b) report a credible instance of suspected geoengineering activity to the Office of the Attorney General.
Section 3. Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
Supplementary documents
Fiscal Note: 3rd Sub. S.B. 126 (Ivory) 2025 General Session Airborne Chemicals Amendments by Winterton, Ronald M. (Bolinder, Bridger) General, Income Tax, and Uniform School Funds (JR4-4-101)
| Ongoing | One-time | Total | |
| Net GF/ITF/USF (rev.-exp.) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Revenues | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 |
| Total Revenues | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Expenditures | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 |
| Aeronautics Restricted Account | $0 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Total Expenditures | $0 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | |
| Net All Funds | $0 | $(2,000) | $(2,000) |