Alabama : 2026 Regular Session : BILL HB25
Air pollution; dispersion of items intended to affect weather prohibited; pollution reduction fund created; environmental management department required to administer
Sponsor: Rep Mack Butler
Bill Details
Air pollution; dispersion of items intended to affect weather prohibited; pollution reduction fund created; environmental management department required to administer
Bill summary (AI generated)
• Aim and Scope: The bill relates to existing air quality measures and prohibits the dispersion of compounds or substances into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting the weather. It aims to add safeguards against future geoengineering research. • Prohibition: No person may inject, release, or disperse, by any means, any chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within or above the state. • Prohibited Purpose: The ban covers activities intended to affect the weather, specifically including temperature, climate, and intensity of sunlight. • Geoengineering/Weather Modification: The bill generally prohibits atmospheric interventions intended to manipulate weather. • Penalties: A violation constitutes a Class B misdemeanor. The offender shall be fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each violation, with each day counting as a separate offense. • Agencies & Funds: The bill creates the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund. All collected fines are deposited into this fund and administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for the purpose of reducing air pollution. • Enforcement/Reporting: ADEM is required to establish a publicly available email address and online form for citizens to report violations. • Related Bill: HB25 followed the HB248 (2025 session), which expired (sine die). HB25 differs by explicitly including the criminal penalty, the establishment of the Pollution Control Fund, and the detailed reporting requirements for ADEM. • Status: The bill was Prefiled on August 11, 2025, and is pending in the House Committee on State Government (as of January 13, 2026). • Effective Date: The act shall become effective on October 1, 2026.
History
The bill, titled "Air pollution; dispersion of items intended to affect weather prohibited; pollution reduction fund created; environmental management department required to administer," was prefiled on August 11, 2025, and was read for the first time on January 13, 2026. It has since been referred to the House Committee on State Government and is pending review. Next, the House Committee on State Government will need to hold a hearing to discuss the bill, where it can be debated, amended, or voted upon. If approved by the committee, the bill will then move to the full House for consideration. If it passes there, it will proceed to the Senate for further review. This path is crucial for the bill's progress, and its future will depend on the support it receives from committee members and ultimately from the wider legislative body.
- Mon 11 Aug 2025 Prefiled
- Tue 13 Jan 2026 Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government
- Tue 13 Jan 2026 Pending House State Government
Bill text (Transcribed)
HB25 Alabama 2026 session
Air pollution; dispersion of items intended to affect weather prohibited; pollution reduction fund created; environmental management department required to administer
HB25 INTRODUCED
By Representatives Butler, Gidley, Lamb, Harrison, Fidler, Bolton
RFD: State Government
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 11-Aug-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, certain measures are provided to maintain and improve air quality in this state.
This bill would prohibit the dispersion of compounds or substances into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting the weather.
This bill would provide a criminal penalty for violations.
This bill would create the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund to be used for reducing air pollution in this state.
This bill would also require the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to administer this fund and to establish an email address and online form to be used by persons reporting violations.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to air pollution; to prohibit the dispersion of compounds or substances into the atmosphere to affect the weather; to provide criminal penalties for violations; to establish the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund for reducing air pollution; and to require the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to administer this fund and facilitate the reporting of violations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1.
(a) No person may inject, release, or disperse, by any means, a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within or above this state for the purpose of affecting the weather, including temperature, climate, and intensity of sunlight.
(b) A person that violates subsection (a) shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Each violation
shall be a separate offense.
(c)
All fines collected pursuant to subsection (b) shall be deposited in the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund that is hereby established in the State Treasury. The fund shall be administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for reducing air pollution in this State.
Receipts deposited into the fund shall be disbursed only by warrants of the Comptroller drawn upon the State Treasury on itemized vouchers approved by the director of the department. No funds shall be withdrawn or expended except as budgeted and allotted according to Sections 41-4-80 to 41-4-96, Code of Alabama 1975, inclusive, and Sections 41-19-1 to 41-19-12, Code of Alabama 1975, inclusive, and only in amounts as stipulated in the general appropriations act, other appropriation acts, or this section. At the end of each fiscal year, any unencumbered balance shall not revert to the State General Fund under Section 41-4-93, Code of Alabama 1975.
(d)
Any person who observes a violation of subsection (a) may submit a report of the violation to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management on the department's website or by telephone, United States mail, or electronic mail.
The department shall establish a publicly available email address and online form to allow the reporting of violations.
(e) The Alabama Department of Environmental Management shall adopt rules to administer this section.
Section 2.
This act shall become effective on October 1, 2026.
Air pollution; dispersion of items intended to affect weather prohibited; pollution reduction fund created; environmental management department required to administer
HB25 INTRODUCED
By Representatives Butler, Gidley, Lamb, Harrison, Fidler, Bolton
RFD: State Government
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 11-Aug-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, certain measures are provided to maintain and improve air quality in this state.
This bill would prohibit the dispersion of compounds or substances into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting the weather.
This bill would provide a criminal penalty for violations.
This bill would create the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund to be used for reducing air pollution in this state.
This bill would also require the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to administer this fund and to establish an email address and online form to be used by persons reporting violations.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to air pollution; to prohibit the dispersion of compounds or substances into the atmosphere to affect the weather; to provide criminal penalties for violations; to establish the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund for reducing air pollution; and to require the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to administer this fund and facilitate the reporting of violations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1.
(a) No person may inject, release, or disperse, by any means, a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within or above this state for the purpose of affecting the weather, including temperature, climate, and intensity of sunlight.
(b) A person that violates subsection (a) shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Each violation
shall be a separate offense.
(c)
All fines collected pursuant to subsection (b) shall be deposited in the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund that is hereby established in the State Treasury. The fund shall be administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for reducing air pollution in this State.
Receipts deposited into the fund shall be disbursed only by warrants of the Comptroller drawn upon the State Treasury on itemized vouchers approved by the director of the department. No funds shall be withdrawn or expended except as budgeted and allotted according to Sections 41-4-80 to 41-4-96, Code of Alabama 1975, inclusive, and Sections 41-19-1 to 41-19-12, Code of Alabama 1975, inclusive, and only in amounts as stipulated in the general appropriations act, other appropriation acts, or this section. At the end of each fiscal year, any unencumbered balance shall not revert to the State General Fund under Section 41-4-93, Code of Alabama 1975.
(d)
Any person who observes a violation of subsection (a) may submit a report of the violation to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management on the department's website or by telephone, United States mail, or electronic mail.
The department shall establish a publicly available email address and online form to allow the reporting of violations.
(e) The Alabama Department of Environmental Management shall adopt rules to administer this section.
Section 2.
This act shall become effective on October 1, 2026.