Utah : 2026 Regular Session : BILL SB0023

GeoLawWatch Bill Summary

Prohibitions:

The law prohibits aircraft owners and operators in Utah from using their aircraft—or allowing others to use them—for solar geoengineering.
Solar geoengineering involves altering Earth's atmosphere by managing solar radiation, specifically by releasing, injecting, or spreading chemicals to reduce the sunlight reaching the ground.

Exclusions:

Activities covered by Title 73, Chapter 15 (Modification of Weather) are not included in this law, so Utah's current weather modification program is still legal.

Enforcement Mechanisms:

The Department of Transportation must establish an online system for people to report suspected solar geoengineering activities.
If the Department of Transportation finds credible reports, it must send them to the Office of the Attorney General.
Airport operators are required to report any suspected solar geoengineering at their airports to the Department of Transportation.

Penalties:

Violating this law is a third-degree felony.
A person convicted under this law can be imprisoned for up to 5 years, as stated in Section 76-3-203 of Utah law.
The fine for breaking this law can be up to $100,000.

Technical Changes:

Section 72-10-120 is updated to include the phrase "Except as otherwise provided in this part" to make room for the new felony rule, since current violations are only class B misdemeanours.

History

SB0023 emerged from Utah's interim committee process, receiving a favorable recommendation from the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee with a 10-5 vote (4 absent). The bill was numbered and publicly distributed on December 5, 2025, during the prefiling period ahead of Utah's 2026 regular session. Chief sponsor is Senator Ronald M. Winterton; no House sponsor has yet been identified.

Utah's 2026 regular session runs January 20 through March 6, 2026, with bill introduction deadlines of January 30 for both chambers. The bill specifies an effective date of May 6, 2026. As a prefiled bill with interim committee backing, SB0023 arrives with some institutional momentum, though the 10-5 committee vote suggests the measure is not without opposition.

Fri 05 Dec 2025 Bill Numbered but not Distributed in Legislative Research and General Counsel
Fri 05 Dec 2025 Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed in Legislative Research and General Counsel
Wed 07 Jan 2026 Senate/ received bill from Legislative Printing in Waiting for Introduction in the Senate
Tue 20 Jan 2026 Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) in Senate Rules Committee

Consolidated Bill Text

Airborne Chemicals Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton
House Sponsor:

The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee recommended this bill.
Legislative Vote: 10 voting for 5 voting against 4 absent

General Description:
This bill addresses the release of chemicals from aircraft.
Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:

defines terms;
establishes that the release of a chemical or substance from an aircraft for the purpose of solar geoengineering is a third-degree felony;
provides a means for a person to submit information regarding suspected solar geoengineering;
requires the Department of Transportation to report credible instances of suspected solar geoengineering to the Office of the Attorney General;
requires an airport operator to report suspected solar geoengineering activity to the Department of Transportation; and
makes technical and conforming changes.

Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
72-10-120, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 140
ENACTS:
72-10-134, Utah Code Annotated 1953

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 72-10-120 is amended to read:
72-10-120. Violations -- Penalty.
Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person who fails to comply with the requirements of or violates any provision of this part is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

Section 2. Section 72-10-134 is enacted to read:
72-10-134. Restrictions on release of chemicals for solar geoengineering -- Criminal penalty -- Required reporting by airport operators.

(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Solar radiation management" means the release, injection, or dispersing of a chemical to artificially reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's lower atmosphere or surface.
(b)(i) "Solar geoengineering" means the modification of the composition, behavior, or dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere by solar radiation management.
(ii) "Solar geoengineering" does not include activities described in Title 73, Chapter 15, Modification of Weather.

(2)(a) It is unlawful for an owner or operator of an aircraft to use or authorize the use of the aircraft in the state with the intent to cause solar geoengineering.
(b) A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a third degree felony punishable by:
(i) imprisonment as provided in Section 76-3-203; and
(ii) a fine not exceeding $100,000.

(3) The department shall:
(a) provide a means for a person to electronically submit information regarding suspected solar geoengineering activity; and
(b) report a credible instance of suspected solar geoengineering activity to the Office of the Attorney General.

(4) An airport operator shall report to the department any suspected solar geoengineering activity at an airport owned or operated by the airport operator.

Section 3. Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.