Illinois : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL SB1426
WEATHER MODIFICATION-SEEDING
Sponsor: Sen Neil Anderson & Sen Andrew Chesney
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
Illinois SB1426 creates the Weather Modification Act, which bans all types of weather modification in the state. The bill states that "any form of weather modification shall not be allowed in this State, including the seeding of clouds by plane or ground." It defines "seeding" as trying to change how much or what kind of precipitation falls from clouds.
SB1426 does not include any enforcement measures, penalties, reporting requirements, or steps to implement the law. It does not establish criminal or civil penalties, a regulatory system, or mechanisms to ensure people follow the law. No state agency is named to oversee or enforce the ban, and there are no procedures for finding or handling violations.
Because it lacks an enforcement mechanism, this is one of the simplest geoengineering prohibition bills so far. Other states usually include criminal penalties, fines, citizen reporting systems, and enforcement agencies. In contrast, Illinois SB1426 only states the ban without any of these features.
The act would take effect as soon as it becomes law, rather than waiting until a future date.
History
After Senator Neil Anderson filed SB1426 on January 31, 2025, the Senate immediately moved the bill through its first reading and into the Assignments Committee. On March 13, 2025, Senator Andrew S. Chesney was added as a co-sponsor, bringing the total number of sponsors to 2 senators.
The bill remains in the Assignments Committee, which in Illinois serves as a procedural gatekeeper that determines which substantive committee will receive legislation for consideration. Assignment to the Assignments Committee is a standard initial step in the Illinois legislative process. Still, bills can remain there indefinitely if leadership chooses not to advance them to a substantive committee.
Illinois operates under a biennial session structure, with the 2025-2026 regular session beginning January 8, 2025, and scheduled to conclude May 31, 2025, for the first year. The session carries over to 2026, reconvening January 14, 2026, and running through May 31, 2026. This carryover provision means SB1426 remains viable throughout both 2025 and 2026 without requiring reintroduction.
Committees have yet to hear or consider the bill, which remains at the initial referral stage. The addition of Senator Chesney as a co-sponsor in mid-March suggests continued interest in the measure. However, the bill has not progressed procedurally since its introduction over six weeks earlier.
- Fri 31 Jan 2025 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Neil Anderson
- Fri 31 Jan 2025 First Reading
- Fri 31 Jan 2025 Referred to Assignments
- Thu 13 Mar 2025 Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Andrew S. Chesney
Consolidated Bill Text
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1426
Introduced 1/31/2025, by Sen. Neil Anderson
New Act
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.
AN ACT concerning regulation.
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.