Oklahoma : 2026 Regular Session : BILL SB1021
Environment and natural resources; prohibiting certain actions relating to weather modification; providing for investigation. Effective date.
Sponsor: Rep Shane Jett & Rep Avery Frix
Bill Details
Environment and natural resources; prohibiting certain actions relating to weather modification; providing for investigation. Effective date.
GeoLawWatch Bill Summary
Summary of the Bill's Provisions
Prohibition
The bill prohibits the intentional injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere within Oklahoma's borders when done with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity.
Enforcement mechanism
The Governor can order the Oklahoma Air National Guard to take action against aircraft that violate this rule. The Guard may stop these aircraft, record their tail numbers, take photos, collect samples of any released substances, use scientific tools such as mass spectrometers, and escort the plane to the nearest airport for further investigation and evidence collection.
Penalties
The bill text specifies no criminal penalties or fines.
Repeals
The bill repeals the entire Oklahoma Weather Modification Act, specifically 82 O.S. 2021, Sections 1087.1 through 1087.20 and Sections 1801.1, 1801.2, and 1801.4, which eliminates the existing regulatory framework that currently permits licensed weather modification operations in the state.
Unusual provisions
Allowing the Air National Guard to stop and escort aircraft is very uncommon, which raises important questions about federal authority, especially since the military would be dealing with civilian planes and the FAA controls airspace.
History
SB1021 was filed for the 2025 session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature, with first reading on February 3, 2025, and Senator Jett listed as author. The bill received its second reading on February 4, 2025, and was referred to the Senate Energy Committee. On March 10, 2025, Senator Frix was added as a coauthor.
The bill remains in the Senate Energy Committee. Oklahoma's legislative calendar shows the 2025 session adjourns May 30, 2025, and the crossover deadline, after which bills cannot move from one chamber to the other, was March 27, 2025. The bill's failure to advance past committee before crossover suggests it is unlikely to progress further this session. The effective date specified in the bill is November 1, 2025.
- Mon 03 Feb 2025 First Reading
- Mon 03 Feb 2025 Authored by Senator Jett
- Tue 04 Feb 2025 Second Reading referred to Energy
- Mon 10 Mar 2025 Coauthored by Senator Frix
Consolidated Bill Text
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
SENATE BILL 1021 By: Jett
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to environment and natural resources; prohibiting certain actions relating to weather modification; providing for investigation; repealing 82 O.S. 2021, Sections 1087.1, 1087.2, 1087.3, 1087.4, 1087.5, 1087.6, 1087.7, 1087.8, 1087.9, 1087.10, 1087.11, 1087.12, 1087.13, 1087.14, 1087.15, 1087.16, 1087.17, 1087.18, 1087.19, 1087.20, 1801.1, 1801.2, and 1801.4, which relate to the Oklahoma Weather Modification Act; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-5-131 of Title 27A, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight is prohibited.
B. The Governor may direct the Oklahoma Air National Guard to interdict, document identification tail numbers, secure photographic evidence, sample aerosolized effluents or particulate, utilize mass spectrometers and other appropriate scientific instrumentation, and engage with aircraft violating this section to escort them to the nearest airport for investigation, securing of evidence, and documentation of violation.
SECTION 2. REPEALER 82 O.S. 2021, Sections 1087.1, 1087.2, 1087.3, 1087.4, 1087.5, 1087.6, 1087.7, 1087.8, 1087.9, 1087.10, 1087.11, 1087.12, 1087.13, 1087.14, 1087.15, 1087.16, 1087.17, 1087.18, 1087.19, 1087.20, 1801.1, 1801.2, and 1801.4, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
Supplementary documents
Bill Analysis
SB 1021 prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight. The measure authorizes the Governor to direct the Oklahoma Air National Guard to interdict and engage with aircraft violating this prohibition. The measure also repeals the Oklahoma Weather Modification Act.