Tennessee : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL HB1112
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201, relative to weather modification.
Sponsor: Rep Monty Fritts & Rep Susan Lynn & Rep Bud Hulsey & Rep Todd Warner & Rep Michele Reneau & Rep Greg Vital & Rep David Hawk
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)
• Companion Bill: HB1112 is identical in substance to Senate Bill 1033 (SB1033), which failed in the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee.
• Prohibited Activity (Amending TCA § 68-201-122): The bill prohibits two main activities:
1. The intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the state borders for the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.
2. The supply or provision of chemicals, compounds, substances, or apparatus for the conduct described above, if the supplier knows or has reason to believe they will be used for such prohibited conduct.
• Scope and Conflation: The broad definition covering the intent to affect "temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight" encompasses activities commonly identified as geoengineering (like solar radiation modification) and traditional weather modification (like cloud seeding).
• Penalties: A violation of the prohibition constitutes a Class A misdemeanor. In addition to this criminal penalty, the department shall assess a mandatory fine of $100,000 per violation. Each instance of injection, release, dispersion, or supply constitutes a separate violation.
• Agency Duties and Enforcement: The bill amends existing law (TCA § 58-2-116(a)) to explicitly include this intentional atmospheric intervention in the list of emergency mitigation-related matters that state agencies are required to study at the Governor's direction. The Attorney General and local district attorneys are authorized to investigate reports of violations deemed credible by a state agency, or investigate the harmful consequences of an emergency if they reasonably believe weather modification might have occurred.
• Effective Date: The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
History
The bill was filed for introduction in February 2025 and has successfully progressed through several stages of the legislative process. It was assigned to the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee and underwent a series of votes and approvals in both the subcommittee and committee levels, where it received recommendations to pass. It then moved to the legislative calendar, where it was placed for a vote in the House, ultimately passing with a majority of 69 votes in favor and 21 against. The bill has since been engrossed, meaning it is prepared for final review and is now ready to be transmitted to the Senate for consideration. The next steps will involve further discussion and potential voting in the Senate.
- Wed 05 Feb 2025 Filed for introduction
- Thu 06 Feb 2025 Intro., P1C.
- Thu 06 Feb 2025 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Mon 10 Feb 2025 P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
- Tue 11 Feb 2025 Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
- Thu 20 Feb 2025 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Wed 26 Feb 2025 Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/5/2025
- Wed 05 Mar 2025 Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
- Wed 05 Mar 2025 Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/11/2025
- Tue 11 Mar 2025 Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
- Tue 11 Mar 2025 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Wed 19 Mar 2025 Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/20/2025
- Thu 20 Mar 2025 H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/24/2025
- Mon 24 Mar 2025 Sponsor(s) Added.
- Mon 24 Mar 2025 Passed H., Ayes 69, Nays 21, PNV 0
- Tue 25 Mar 2025 Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
- Wed 26 Mar 2025 Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
Bill text (Transcribed)
Tennessee : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL HB1112
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201, relative to weather modification.
HOUSE BILL 1112 By Fritts
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.
HOUSE BILL 1112 By Fritts
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.