North Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL H362
Clean Skies Geoengineering Ban
Sponsor: Rep Jonathan Almond & Rep Jeffrey McNeely & Rep Joe Pike & Rep Jerry Branson & Rep Blair Eddins & Rep Wyatt Gable & Rep Mary Harrison & Rep Neal Jackson & Rep Keith Kidwell & Rep Donnie Loftis & Rep Ben Moss & Rep Mitchell Setzer & Rep Harry Warren
Bill Details
Clean Skies Geoengineering Ban
Bill summary (AI generated)
Summary of North Carolina House Bill 362 (H362)
Main Purpose and Intent of the Proposed Law
• Goal of the Act: The bill is an act to prohibit the intentional release of polluting emissions into the atmosphere.
• Prohibited Intent: The emissions are banned specifically if they are intended to alter the temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.
• Specific Prohibition: If enacted, the law would amend G.S. 143-215.108(a) to prohibit the act of intentionally injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this State into the atmosphere. This prohibited activity must have the intentional or sole purpose of "atmospheric modification".
Definition of Prohibited Activities ("Atmospheric Modification")
The bill amends G.S. 143-213 to define the term "atmospheric modification". This term encompasses several specific activities:
• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI).
• Cloud seeding.
• Electromagnetic radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions.
• Other atmospheric polluting activity that affects various state interests.
The "other atmospheric polluting activity" is defined by its effect on specific aspects, including:
• Temperature, weather, or intensity of sunlight.
• The environment, agriculture, and wildlife.
• Human health and safety, aviation, and state security.
• The economy of the State.
• Exclusion: Notably, the term "atmospheric modification" does not include the application of pesticides via aircraft when done under a license issued by the Pesticide Board.
Legislative Status and Sponsors
• Short Title: Clean Skies Geoengineering Ban.
• Primary Sponsors: Representatives Almond, McNeely, and Pike.
• Current Status: The bill was filed on March 11, 2025, passed its 1st Reading on March 12, 2025, and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
Enforcement and Implementation
• Enforcement Body: Section 3 of the bill mandates that The Environmental Management Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement this act.
• Effective Date: The act is effective when it becomes law.
The scope of this bill, H362, is highly similar to Senate Bill 485 (S485), which also seeks to prohibit geoengineering activities, including SAI, cloud seeding, and electromagnetic radio frequency releases, to alter weather or sunlight
History
The bill was filed on March 11, 2025, and successfully passed its first reading the following day. After this, it was referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House for further consideration. Currently, the bill is still active; its next steps involve review and potential discussion in this committee, where members will assess its implications and decide whether to advance it for a vote in the wider House of Representatives.
- Tue 11 Mar 2025 Filed
- Wed 12 Mar 2025 Passed 1st Reading
- Wed 12 Mar 2025 Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Bill text (Transcribed)
North Carolina : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL H362
Clean Skies Geoengineering Ban
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
HOUSE BILL 362
Short Title: Clean Skies Geoengineering Ban.
Sponsors: Representatives Almond, McNeely, and Pike (Primary Sponsors).
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE INTENTIONAL RELEASE OF POLLUTING EMISSIONS, INCLUDING STRATOSPHERIC AEROSOL INJECTION, CLOUD SEEDING, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIO FREQUENCY, INTO THE ATMOSPHERE TO ALTER THE TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, OR THE INTENSITY OF SUNLIGHT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 143-213 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(5b) The term "atmospheric modification" means stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), cloud seeding, electromagnetic radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions, or other atmospheric polluting activity affecting temperature, weather, intensity of sunlight, the environment, agriculture, wildlife, human health and safety, aviation, state security, or the economy of the State. The term does not include the application of pesticides via aircraft under a license issued by the Pesticide Board pursuant to Article 52 of this Chapter."
SECTION 2. G.S. 143-215.108(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(5) 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 intentional or sole purpose of atmospheric modification."
SECTION 3. The Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement this act.
SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law.
Clean Skies Geoengineering Ban
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
HOUSE BILL 362
Short Title: Clean Skies Geoengineering Ban.
Sponsors: Representatives Almond, McNeely, and Pike (Primary Sponsors).
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE INTENTIONAL RELEASE OF POLLUTING EMISSIONS, INCLUDING STRATOSPHERIC AEROSOL INJECTION, CLOUD SEEDING, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIO FREQUENCY, INTO THE ATMOSPHERE TO ALTER THE TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, OR THE INTENSITY OF SUNLIGHT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 143-213 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(5b) The term "atmospheric modification" means stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), cloud seeding, electromagnetic radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions, or other atmospheric polluting activity affecting temperature, weather, intensity of sunlight, the environment, agriculture, wildlife, human health and safety, aviation, state security, or the economy of the State. The term does not include the application of pesticides via aircraft under a license issued by the Pesticide Board pursuant to Article 52 of this Chapter."
SECTION 2. G.S. 143-215.108(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(5) 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 intentional or sole purpose of atmospheric modification."
SECTION 3. The Environmental Management Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement this act.
SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law.