Texas : 2025 Regular Session : BILL SB1154
Relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities by a governmental entity.
Sponsor: Sen Bryan Hughes & Sen Tan Parker
Bill Details
Relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities by a governmental entity.
Bill summary (AI generated)
• What it means: This bill introduces a focused prohibition targeting governmental entities regarding weather and climate modification activities, including geoengineering. Unlike HB1382, it does not necessarily prohibit private activity, but severely limits governmental involvement and coordination.
• What laws are being introduced/amended:
â—¦ It defines "geoengineering" as the intentional injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals/substances/apparatus into the atmosphere to affect temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity.
â—¦ A governmental entity is prohibited from engaging in geoengineering, weather modification and control, or cloud-seeding operations.
â—¦ It amends the cooperative agreements section (Sec. 301.057) to allow the TDLR to cooperate only with private agencies to promote the chapter's purposes, effectively preventing cooperation with government bodies on operations.
â—¦ It amends exemptions for licensing and permits (Sec. 301.102) to remove state and federal agencies from the list of entities whose research may be exempted.
â—¦ It repeals specific sections and Chapter 302 of the Agriculture Code.
â—¦ The changes apply only to contracts entered into on or after the effective date of the Act.
â—¦ The Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
History
The bill SB1154, titled "Relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities by a governmental entity," was filed on February 6, 2025. It was read for the first time on February 28, 2025, and subsequently referred to the Natural Resources Committee. A co-author was also authorized on April 2, 2025. As the bill is currently still active, the next steps involve the Natural Resources Committee reviewing the bill, which may include discussions, potential amendments, and a vote on whether to advance it to the full Senate for consideration. If the committee approves the bill, it will be sent to the Senate floor for further debate and voting. If additional amendments are suggested, there may be further revisions before it can proceed.
- Thu 06 Feb 2025 Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Thu 06 Feb 2025 Filed
- Fri 28 Feb 2025 Read first time
- Fri 28 Feb 2025 Referred to Natural Resources
- Wed 02 Apr 2025 Co-author authorized
Bill text (Transcribed)
Texas : 2025 Regular Session : BILL SB1154
Relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities by a governmental entity.
By: Hughes S.B. No. 1154
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities by a governmental entity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 301, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding Section 301.002 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.002. WEATHER OR CLIMATE MODIFICATION BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY PROHIBITED.
(a) In this section, "geoengineering" means the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a governmental entity may not engage in geoengineering, weather modification and control, or cloud-seeding operations.
SECTION 2. Section 301.057, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.057. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation may cooperate with private agencies to promote the purposes of this chapter.
SECTION 3. Section 301.102(a), Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation by rule, to the extent it considers exemptions practical, shall provide for exempting the following activities from the license and permit requirements of this chapter:
(1) research, development, and experiments conducted by private institutions of higher learning[,] and bona fide nonprofit research organizations;
(2) laboratory research and experiments;
(3) activities of an emergent nature for protection against fire, frost, sleet, or fog; and
(4) activities normally conducted for purposes other than inducing, increasing, decreasing, or preventing precipitation or hail.
SECTION 4. The following provisions of the Agriculture Code are repealed:
(1) Section 301.056;
(2) Section 301.058(b); and
(3) Chapter 302.
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the contract was entered into, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities by a governmental entity.
By: Hughes S.B. No. 1154
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities by a governmental entity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 301, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding Section 301.002 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.002. WEATHER OR CLIMATE MODIFICATION BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY PROHIBITED.
(a) In this section, "geoengineering" means the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a governmental entity may not engage in geoengineering, weather modification and control, or cloud-seeding operations.
SECTION 2. Section 301.057, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.057. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation may cooperate with private agencies to promote the purposes of this chapter.
SECTION 3. Section 301.102(a), Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation by rule, to the extent it considers exemptions practical, shall provide for exempting the following activities from the license and permit requirements of this chapter:
(1) research, development, and experiments conducted by private institutions of higher learning[,] and bona fide nonprofit research organizations;
(2) laboratory research and experiments;
(3) activities of an emergent nature for protection against fire, frost, sleet, or fog; and
(4) activities normally conducted for purposes other than inducing, increasing, decreasing, or preventing precipitation or hail.
SECTION 4. The following provisions of the Agriculture Code are repealed:
(1) Section 301.056;
(2) Section 301.058(b); and
(3) Chapter 302.
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the contract was entered into, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.