Introduced
Ohio : 2025-2026 Regular Session : BILL HB290
Enact the Atmosphere Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep Tom Young & Rep Tim Barhorst & Rep Jennifer Gross & Rep Angela King & Rep Johnathan Newman & Rep Justin Pizzulli & Rep Monica Robb Blasdel & Rep Jodi Salvo & Rep Josh Williams & Rep Heidi Workman
Bill Details
To enact section 2917.43 of the Revised Code to prohibit a person from engaging in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods, and to name the act the Atmosphere Protection Act.
Bill summary (AI generated)
HB 290 - Atmosphere Protection Act (136th General Assembly Regular Session, 2025-2026)
• Aims and Enactment: The bill enacts section 2917.43 of the Revised Code and names the act the Atmosphere Protection Act.
• Prohibition: No person or entity shall engage in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods in the state.
• Scope: The prohibition applies regardless of the platform used, including aircraft, balloons, drones, space-based platforms, or interoperable ground-based facilities.
• Definitions:
â—¦ Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is defined as an experiment involving the release of "pollutants" that reduces the amount of sunlight absorbed by the earth. SRM techniques specifically mentioned include marine cloud brightening, space-based reflectors, or stratospheric aerosol injection.
â—¦ Cloud seeding is defined as a form of weather modification where a pollutant is released into clouds to induce or enhance precipitation.
â—¦ Pollutant is extensively defined, including chemicals, metals, particulates, smart dust, and artificially produced electromagnetic fields or radiation.
• Enforcement: The superintendent of the state highway patrol or a county sheriff is required to issue a cease-and-desist order to any person conducting or attempting to conduct the prohibited activities.
• Penalties: Violation of this section, or failure to comply with a cease-and-desist order, is a strict liability offense. The violation constitutes a third degree felony and mandates a prison term of thirty-six months and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand dollars. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.
• Treatment of related terms: The bill explicitly prohibits solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, and sunlight reflection methods, treating them as distinct yet equally prohibited activities falling under the scope of atmospheric modification.
History
The Atmosphere Protection Act (HB290) was introduced on May 20, 2025, and was immediately referred to the Natural Resources Committee on May 21, 2025. The next steps for this bill involve it being reviewed by the committee, where members will discuss its provisions, propose amendments, and ultimately vote on whether to advance it to the full legislature for consideration. If it passes the committee vote, it will then be scheduled for debate and a vote by the entire legislative body. If it does not pass the committee, the bill will effectively fail at this stage.
- Tue 20 May 2025 Introduced
- Wed 21 May 2025 Referred to committee: Natural Resources
Bill text (Transcribed)
As Introduced
136th General Assembly Regular Session 2025-2026
H. B. No. 290
Representative Young
Cosponsors: Representatives Barhorst, Gross, Jones, King, Newman, Pizzulli, Robb Blasdel, Salvo, Williams, Workman
To enact section 2917.43 of the Revised Code to prohibit a person from engaging in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods, and to name the act the Atmosphere Protection Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 2917.43 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 2917.43. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Cloud seeding" means a form of weather modification where a pollutant is released into clouds to induce or enhance precipitation.
(2) "Marine cloud brightening" means enhancing the reflectivity of low-lying marine clouds to reflect more sunlight.
(3) "Pollutant" means any aerosol; biologic, transbiologic, or genetically modified agent; chaff; metal; radioactive material; acid; alkali; chemical; particulate; contaminant; smart dust; smoke; soot; fume; vapor; air pollutant regulated by this state; mechanical vibration or other physical agent; waste, including materials that may be recycled, reconditioned, or reclaimed; solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal irritant; or artificially produced electric field, magnetic field, electromagnetic field, electromagnetic pulse, sound wave, sound pollution, light pollution, microwave, or ionizing or nonionizing radiation.
(4) "Solar radiation modification" means an experiment in the earth's climatic system involving the release of pollutants that reduces the amount of sunlight absorbed by the earth, including through marine cloud brightening, space-based reflectors, or stratospheric aerosol injection.
(5) "Space-based reflectors" means deploying mirrors or other reflective objects in space to deflect sunlight.
(6) "Stratospheric aerosol injection" means introducing reflective particles into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight.
(B) No person or entity shall engage in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods in this state, including through the use of an aircraft, balloon, drone, space-based platform, or interoperable ground-based facility.
(C) The superintendent of the state highway patrol or a county sheriff shall issue a cease-and-desist order to a person who the superintendent or sheriff determines is conducting or attempting to conduct solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods. No person shall fail to comply with a cease and desist order issued under this division.
(D) A violation of this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a third degree felony and the court shall impose a mandatory prison term of thirty-six months on the offender and, notwithstanding section 2929.18 of the Revised Code, a fine of not less than five hundred thousand dollars.
Section 2. This act shall be known as the Atmosphere Protection Act.
136th General Assembly Regular Session 2025-2026
H. B. No. 290
Representative Young
Cosponsors: Representatives Barhorst, Gross, Jones, King, Newman, Pizzulli, Robb Blasdel, Salvo, Williams, Workman
To enact section 2917.43 of the Revised Code to prohibit a person from engaging in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods, and to name the act the Atmosphere Protection Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 2917.43 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 2917.43. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Cloud seeding" means a form of weather modification where a pollutant is released into clouds to induce or enhance precipitation.
(2) "Marine cloud brightening" means enhancing the reflectivity of low-lying marine clouds to reflect more sunlight.
(3) "Pollutant" means any aerosol; biologic, transbiologic, or genetically modified agent; chaff; metal; radioactive material; acid; alkali; chemical; particulate; contaminant; smart dust; smoke; soot; fume; vapor; air pollutant regulated by this state; mechanical vibration or other physical agent; waste, including materials that may be recycled, reconditioned, or reclaimed; solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal irritant; or artificially produced electric field, magnetic field, electromagnetic field, electromagnetic pulse, sound wave, sound pollution, light pollution, microwave, or ionizing or nonionizing radiation.
(4) "Solar radiation modification" means an experiment in the earth's climatic system involving the release of pollutants that reduces the amount of sunlight absorbed by the earth, including through marine cloud brightening, space-based reflectors, or stratospheric aerosol injection.
(5) "Space-based reflectors" means deploying mirrors or other reflective objects in space to deflect sunlight.
(6) "Stratospheric aerosol injection" means introducing reflective particles into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight.
(B) No person or entity shall engage in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods in this state, including through the use of an aircraft, balloon, drone, space-based platform, or interoperable ground-based facility.
(C) The superintendent of the state highway patrol or a county sheriff shall issue a cease-and-desist order to a person who the superintendent or sheriff determines is conducting or attempting to conduct solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods. No person shall fail to comply with a cease and desist order issued under this division.
(D) A violation of this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a third degree felony and the court shall impose a mandatory prison term of thirty-six months on the offender and, notwithstanding section 2929.18 of the Revised Code, a fine of not less than five hundred thousand dollars.
Section 2. This act shall be known as the Atmosphere Protection Act.