Failed in Committee
Tennessee : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL SB1033
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201, relative to weather modification.
Sponsor: Sen Janince Bowling
Bill Details
As introduced, designates 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, or supplying or otherwise providing the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus required for the conduct, as a Class A misdemeanor; makes other changes related to investigations and enforcement related to weather modification. - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201.
Bill summary (AI generated)
• Status: The bill was introduced in the Senate but failed in the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee. • Aims and Scope (Amendments to TCA Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201): The legislation intended to strengthen prohibitions on intentional atmospheric manipulation and integrate the ban into existing state emergency mitigation responsibilities. • Prohibited Activity: It is an offense to intentionally inject, release, or disperse chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the state for the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight. • Prohibited Supply: It is also an offense to supply such materials if the provider knows or has reason to believe they will be used for the prohibited conduct. • Treatment of Geoengineering/Cloud Seeding: The bill's language broadly covers both large-scale geoengineering methods (like solar radiation modification) and traditional weather modification (like cloud seeding) by prohibiting releases meant to affect "temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight" [538, HB1112 summary]. • Penalties: A violation is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. In addition to the criminal penalty, the department shall assess a mandatory fine of $100,000 per violation, with each instance of injection/release or supply counting as a separate violation. • Enforcement: The Attorney General and local district attorneys are authorized to investigate reports of violations if deemed credible by a state agency, or investigate harmful emergency consequences if weather modification is reasonably suspected. • Effective Date: The proposed effective date was July 1, 2025.
History
The bill was filed for introduction in February 2025 and successfully passed its first and second considerations in the legislature. It was then referred to the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee, where it was scheduled for discussion. However, the bill ultimately failed in this committee on March 26, 2025, meaning it will not advance further in the legislative process. Therefore, the bill is now considered unsuccessful and will not become law unless reintroduced in the future.
- Wed 05 Feb 2025 Filed for introduction
- Mon 10 Feb 2025 Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
- Wed 12 Feb 2025 Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
- Thu 13 Mar 2025 Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025
- Wed 19 Mar 2025 Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/26/2025
- Wed 19 Mar 2025 Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/26/2025
- Wed 26 Mar 2025 Failed in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Bill text (Transcribed)
Tennessee : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL SB1033
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201, relative to weather modification.
SENATE BILL 1033 By Bowling
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201, relative to weather modification.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-116(a), is amended by deleting the second sentence and substituting:
At the governor's direction, state agencies, including, those charged with responsibilities in connection with flood plain management; stream encroachment and flow regulation; weather modification, including 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; fire prevention and control; air quality; public works; land use and land use planning; and construction standards, shall make studies of emergency mitigation-related matters.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-201-122, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting:
(a) It is an offense to:
Intentionally inject, release, or disperse, by any means, 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; or
Supply or otherwise provide a person with the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus required for the conduct described in subdivision (a)(1) if the supplier or provider knows or has reason to believe that the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus will be used for such conduct.
(b) The attorney general and reporter and local district attorneys may investigate a report of:
A violation of subsection (a) if the report is deemed credible by a state agency charged with responsibilities as described in § 58-2-116(a); or
The occurrence of a harmful consequence of an emergency, as described in § 58-2-116, if the attorney general and reporter or local district attorney reasonably believes that weather modification has or might have taken place.
(c)
Notwithstanding § 68-201-112, a violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.
In addition to the penalty described in subdivision (c)(1), if the department determines that a person violated subsection (a), then the department shall assess a fine of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per violation. For purposes of determining the applicable penalty under this subdivision (c)(2), each instance of injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus for the purposes described in subdivision (a)(1), and each instance of supplying or otherwise providing the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus in violation of subdivision (a)(2), is a separate violation.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201, relative to weather modification.
SENATE BILL 1033 By Bowling
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201, relative to weather modification.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-116(a), is amended by deleting the second sentence and substituting:
At the governor's direction, state agencies, including, those charged with responsibilities in connection with flood plain management; stream encroachment and flow regulation; weather modification, including 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; fire prevention and control; air quality; public works; land use and land use planning; and construction standards, shall make studies of emergency mitigation-related matters.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-201-122, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting:
(a) It is an offense to:
Intentionally inject, release, or disperse, by any means, 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; or
Supply or otherwise provide a person with the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus required for the conduct described in subdivision (a)(1) if the supplier or provider knows or has reason to believe that the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus will be used for such conduct.
(b) The attorney general and reporter and local district attorneys may investigate a report of:
A violation of subsection (a) if the report is deemed credible by a state agency charged with responsibilities as described in § 58-2-116(a); or
The occurrence of a harmful consequence of an emergency, as described in § 58-2-116, if the attorney general and reporter or local district attorney reasonably believes that weather modification has or might have taken place.
(c)
Notwithstanding § 68-201-112, a violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.
In addition to the penalty described in subdivision (c)(1), if the department determines that a person violated subsection (a), then the department shall assess a fine of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per violation. For purposes of determining the applicable penalty under this subdivision (c)(2), each instance of injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus for the purposes described in subdivision (a)(1), and each instance of supplying or otherwise providing the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus in violation of subdivision (a)(2), is a separate violation.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.