GeoLawWatch Open Legislation 11
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OKBillSB1021Sine die

Environment and natural resources; prohibiting certain actions relating to weather modification; providing for investigation. Effective date.

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed one chamber
  3. Passed both chambers
  4. Passed

Oklahoma's SB1021 would authorise the Air National Guard to intercept aircraft suspected of weather modification activities and escort them to airports for investigation, while simultaneously repealing the state's existing weather modification licensing program that has regulated cloud seeding operations for decades.

Our 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.

Legislative history

  1. Coauthored by Senator Frix
  2. Second Reading referred to Energy
  3. Authored by Senator Jett
  4. First Reading

Additional documents

Bill text 
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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.