Louisiana : 2025 Regular Session : BILL SB46
To prohibit the intentional release, or dispersion of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature. (8/1/25)
Sponsor: Sen Michael Fesi & Sen Heather Cloud & Sen Valarie Hodges & Rep Beryl Amedee & Rep Mike Bayham & Rep Marcus Bryant & Rep Kimberly Coates & Rep Raymond Crews & Rep Kellee Dickerson & Rep Kathy Edmonston & Rep Peter Egan & Rep Dodie Horton & Rep Danny McCormick & Rep Charles Owen & Rep Rodney Schamerhorn
Bill Details
To prohibit the intentional release, or dispersion of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature. (8/1/25)
Bill summary (AI generated)
Status (as of introduction context): Senate Bill 46 (SB46) passed and became law (Act No. 95). It became effective on August 1, 2025. New Laws and Provisions SB46 enacted R.S. 30:2057(A)(3) to establish a prohibition on atmospheric release to affect weather or temperature, and also repealed prior state statutes regarding weather modification. Key Provisions of SB46: • Intentional Release Prohibition: The bill prohibits any person from intentionally injecting, releasing, applying, or dispersing a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within Louisiana for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight. The sources confirm this was an outright ban on geoengineering and weather modification. • Exemptions: The ban specifically excludes the release or dispersal of fire retardant or fire suppressant substances under one thousand feet above ground level for fire fighting, and the aerial application of seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides for agriculture or forestry purposes, provided these activities also occur under one thousand feet above ground level. • Public Reporting Facility: The department (in the context of Louisiana's law) is required to establish procedures for the intake of reports from any person who observes an activity potentially violating the prohibition. These reports must allow for electronic submittal and be received for the purpose of data collection. • Public Transparency: The department is required to make the collected reports publicly available through its website or Electronic Document Management System. The source notes that the public reports generated by this facility have, in practice, largely comprised reports of ordinary contrails. Enforcement Mechanisms Envisaged • Enforcement Agency/Reporting: While the bill enacts a prohibition, the mechanism specified is that observed activities may be reported to "the department," which is responsible for establishing intake procedures and collecting data. • Nature of Enforcement: SB46 established the outright ban. The bill sets the legal boundary against such intentional releases. Though the sources confirm the ban was passed, specific penalties (such as fines or imprisonment) are not detailed within the provided excerpts of SB46.
History
The bill SB46, titled "To prohibit the intentional release, or dispersion of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature," has successfully passed through the legislative process. After being introduced, it was amended and passed in both the Senate and House, receiving the Governor's signature on June 8, 2025, making it Act No. 95, which will take effect on August 1, 2025. As it is now enacted law, no further legislative action is needed. The focus will shift to the implementation of the law, ensuring that its provisions are enforced starting on the effective date. Agencies responsible for environmental quality will likely need to develop and publish guidelines to enforce the new regulations against the intentional release of chemicals for temperature modification.
- Mon 31 Mar 2025 Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.
- Mon 14 Apr 2025 Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.
- Tue 22 Apr 2025 Reported with amendments.
- Wed 23 Apr 2025 Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.
- Mon 28 Apr 2025 Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 12 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
- Mon 28 Apr 2025 Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
- Tue 29 Apr 2025 Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
- Tue 20 May 2025 Reported with amendments (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- Wed 21 May 2025 Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
- Thu 22 May 2025 Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.
- Wed 28 May 2025 Scheduled for floor debate on 05/29/2025.
- Thu 29 May 2025 Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 58, nays 33. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
- Thu 29 May 2025 Received from the House with amendments.
- Sun 01 Jun 2025 Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.
- Mon 02 Jun 2025 Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.
- Tue 03 Jun 2025 Signed by the Speaker of the House.
- Tue 03 Jun 2025 Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.
- Sun 08 Jun 2025 Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 95.
- Sun 08 Jun 2025 Effective date 8/1/2025.
Bill text (Transcribed)
Louisiana : 2025 Regular Session : BILL SB46
To prohibit the intentional release, or dispersion of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature.
2025 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 46
BY SENATORS FESI, CLOUD AND HODGES AND REPRESENTATIVES AMEDEE, BAYHAM, BRYANT, COATES, CREWS, DICKERSON, EDMONSTON, EGAN, HORTON, MCCORMICK, OWEN AND SCHAMERHORN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
AN ACT
To enact R.S. 30:2057(A)(3) and to repeal Chapter 25 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 37:2201 through 2208, relative to the intentional release of substances into the atmosphere to affect weather or temperature; to provide for prohibitions; and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
Section 1. R.S. 30:2057(A)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
§2057. Prohibitions; exceptions
A. No person shall:
* * *
(3) Intentionally inject, release, apply, or disperse, by any means, a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to the injection, release, or dispersal under one thousand feet above ground level of fire retardant or fire suppressant substances for purposes of extinguishing or suppressing fire, or to the aerial application under one thousand feet above ground level of seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides for agriculture or forestry purposes.
(a) Any person who observes an activity which may be conducted in violation of this Subsection may report the observed activity to the department.
(b) The department shall establish procedures for the intake of reports made pursuant to this Subsection, which shall allow for electronic submittal. The department may adopt any rules as necessary to implement this Subsection.
(c) The department shall receive the reports for the purpose of data collection and shall make the reports publicly available through the department's website or the Electronic Document Management System.
* * *
Section 2. Chapter 25 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 37:2201 through 2208, is hereby repealed.
To prohibit the intentional release, or dispersion of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature.
2025 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 46
BY SENATORS FESI, CLOUD AND HODGES AND REPRESENTATIVES AMEDEE, BAYHAM, BRYANT, COATES, CREWS, DICKERSON, EDMONSTON, EGAN, HORTON, MCCORMICK, OWEN AND SCHAMERHORN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
AN ACT
To enact R.S. 30:2057(A)(3) and to repeal Chapter 25 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 37:2201 through 2208, relative to the intentional release of substances into the atmosphere to affect weather or temperature; to provide for prohibitions; and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
Section 1. R.S. 30:2057(A)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
§2057. Prohibitions; exceptions
A. No person shall:
* * *
(3) Intentionally inject, release, apply, or disperse, by any means, a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to the injection, release, or dispersal under one thousand feet above ground level of fire retardant or fire suppressant substances for purposes of extinguishing or suppressing fire, or to the aerial application under one thousand feet above ground level of seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides for agriculture or forestry purposes.
(a) Any person who observes an activity which may be conducted in violation of this Subsection may report the observed activity to the department.
(b) The department shall establish procedures for the intake of reports made pursuant to this Subsection, which shall allow for electronic submittal. The department may adopt any rules as necessary to implement this Subsection.
(c) The department shall receive the reports for the purpose of data collection and shall make the reports publicly available through the department's website or the Electronic Document Management System.
* * *
Section 2. Chapter 25 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 37:2201 through 2208, is hereby repealed.