GeoLawWatch Open Legislation 11
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AZBillSB1432Missed House deadline

Prohibition; geoengineering

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed one chamber
  3. Passed both chambers
  4. Passed

Arizona SB 1432 prohibits solar radiation management activities while explicitly preserving the state's traditional weather modification regulatory system. This minimalist approach establishes a ban without any enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or investigative authority, making it essentially unenforceable.

Our summary

Solar Radiation Management Prohibition:

  • Prohibits anyone from intentionally injecting, releasing, or dispensing any chemical, substance, or device in Arizona if the goal is solar radiation management.
  • This rule applies to everyone, even if other laws say otherwise.

Explicit Exception:

  • Weather modification activities allowed under Title 45, Chapter 9 of Arizona law are not affected by this ban.

Definition:

  • “Solar radiation management” means injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to make the atmosphere reflect more sunlight or reduce how much sunlight reaches the ground.

Enforcement and Penalties:

  • The bill does not describe how the ban would be enforced.
  • It does not set any civil or criminal penalties.
  • No agency or authority is named to investigate violations.There is no process for citizens to file complaints.

Unusual Provisions:

  • The bill keeps Arizona’s current weather modification rules in place, unlike HB 2056, which would have repealed them.
  • Extremely narrow scope focusing only on solar radiation. Although it sets a ban, the bill does not include any way to enforce it. The bill requires proof that someone acted with the specific intent to engage in solar radiation management.

Legislative history

  1. House RO Committee action: Do Pass, voting: (3-2-0-0-0-0)
  2. House read second time
  3. Assigned to House RULES Committee
  4. Assigned to House NREW Committee
  5. Assigned to House RO Committee
  6. Introduced in House and read first time
  7. Transmit to House
  8. Senate third reading PASSED voting: (16-11-3-0)
  9. Senate Committee of the Whole action: Do Pass Amended
  10. Senate majority caucus: Do pass
  11. Senate minority caucus: Do pass
  12. Senate RULES Committee action: Proper For Consideration, voting: (0-0-0-0)
  13. Senate NR Committee action: Do Pass Amended, voting: (4-3-1-0)
  14. Senate read second time
  15. Assigned to Senate RULES Committee
  16. Assigned to Senate NR Committee
  17. Introduced in Senate and read first time

Additional documents

Bill text 
Senate Engrossed
prohibition; geoengineering

State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
2025

SENATE BILL 1432

AN ACT

AMENDING TITLE 49, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 49-119; RELATING TO CLIMATE MODIFICATION.


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 49, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 49-119, to read:

49-119. Geoengineering; prohibition; definition

A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW AND EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN TITLE 45, CHAPTER 9, A PERSON MAY NOT INTENTIONALLY INJECT, RELEASE OR DISPENSE BY ANY MEANS ANY CHEMICAL, CHEMICAL COMPOUND, SUBSTANCE OR APPARATUS WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THIS STATE WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT.

B. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT" INCLUDES THE INJECTION OF STRATOSPHERIC AEROSOLS THAT INCREASE ATMOSPHERIC REFLECTIVITY OR DECREASE THE INTENSITY OF SUNLIGHT.