Arizona : 2026 Regular Session : BILL HB2042
Solar radiation management; prohibition; enforcement
Sponsor: Rep Lisa Fink & Rep Ralph Heap & Rep Rachel Keshel & Rep David Marshall & Rep Teresa Martinez & Rep Khyl Powell & Rep Michael Way
Bill Details
Solar radiation management; prohibition; enforcement
GeoLawWatch Bill Summary
Prohibition on Solar Radiation Management Activities:
- A person may not intentionally inject, release, or dispense any material in Arizona for solar radiation management.
- This rule applies to all people in Arizona and takes priority over any other laws that might conflict with it.
Funding Restrictions:
- Organisations that receive public funding, such as universities, are not permitted to grant funds for solar radiation management technology.
Citizen Complaint Mechanism:
- Any resident of Arizona can report a possible violation to the Attorney General.
- A complaint should include the person's name and contact information, the date or dates of the violation, a description of what happened—such as where and how it occurred, and which substances were used if known—and any evidence that supports the claim.
Enforcement Authority:
- The Attorney General is required to investigate any citizen complaint that appears credible.
- If there is reasonable suspicion of a violation, the Attorney General can start an investigation.
- The Attorney General can bring cases of violations to the superior court.
Penalties and Remedies:
- The court is required to grant injunctive relief and cover attorney fees for the winning party.
- The court may grant any other relief deemed appropriate.
- This rule does not include any criminal penalties or monetary fines.
Unusual Provisions:
- Unlike similar bills, this one requires investigating any credible citizen complaint rather than relying on criminal prosecution. As a result, the bill emphasises administrative action rather than criminal penalties.
- The only penalties mentioned are injunctive relief and attorney fees. There are no criminal penalties, fines, or other legal consequences. This sets the bill apart from others that often include more types of penalties.
History
After being Prefiled in December to prepare for the upcoming session, the bill was formally Introduced and underwent its First Reading, which serves as the official announcement of the legislation on the House floor. It was then concurrently Assigned to two committees: the Natural Resources, Energy & Water (NREW) Committee for a substantive review of its specific policy implications, and the Rules Committee, which serves as a procedural gatekeeper to ensure the bill is in the correct legal form and constitutional. This dual assignment means the bill must be vetted for both its practical impact and its adherence to legislative standards before it can advance to a full vote.
- Thu 11 Dec 2025 Prefile
- Mon 12 Jan 2026 Introduced in House and read first time
- Mon 12 Jan 2026 Assigned to House NREW Committee
- Mon 12 Jan 2026 Assigned to House RULES Committee
- Tue 13 Jan 2026 House read second time
Consolidated Bill Text
PREFILED Dec 11 2025
REFERENCE TITLE: solar radiation management; prohibition; enforcement
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HB 2042
Introduced by
Representatives Fink: Heap, Keshel, Marshall, Martinez, Powell, Way
AN ACT
AMENDING TITLE 49, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 49-119; RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 49, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 49-119, to read:
49-119. Solar radiation management; prohibition; enforcement; definition
A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, A PERSON MAY NOT INTENTIONALLY INJECT, RELEASE OR DISPENSE OR CAUSE THE INJECTION, RELEASE OR DISPENSATION OF ANY MATERIAL WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THIS STATE FOR SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT.
B. A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE, INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITY THAT RECEIVES PUBLIC MONIES, MAY NOT PROVIDE ANY GRANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES.
C. ANY RESIDENT OF THIS STATE MAY SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION. COMPLAINTS MUST STATE THE FOLLOWING:
1. THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE RESIDENT WHO SUBMITS THE COMPLAINT.
2. THE DATE OR DATES THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OCCURRED.
3. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATION AND THE LOCATION, METHOD AND SUBSTANCES OR COMPOUNDS USED, IF KNOWN.
4. ANY APPLICABLE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE OR DOCUMENTATION.
D. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL INVESTIGATE ALL CREDIBLE COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
E. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVESTIGATE ANY CONDUCT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS REASONABLE SUSPICION TO BELIEVE VIOLATES THIS SECTION.
F. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY FILE AN ACTION IN THE SUPERIOR COURT ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION. IF THE COURT FINDS A VIOLATION, THE SUPERIOR COURT SHALL AWARD INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES TO THE PREVAILING PARTY. THE SUPERIOR COURT MAY AWARD OTHER RELIEF AS THE COURT FINDS NECESSARY.
G. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT" MEANS THE MODIFICATION OR ATTEMPTED MODIFICATION OF ATMOSPHERIC
REFLECTIVITY THAT MODIFIES THE AMOUNT OR INTENSITY OF SUNLIGHT THAT REACHES THE EARTH.
REFERENCE TITLE: solar radiation management; prohibition; enforcement
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HB 2042
Introduced by
Representatives Fink: Heap, Keshel, Marshall, Martinez, Powell, Way
AN ACT
AMENDING TITLE 49, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 49-119; RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 49, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 49-119, to read:
49-119. Solar radiation management; prohibition; enforcement; definition
A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, A PERSON MAY NOT INTENTIONALLY INJECT, RELEASE OR DISPENSE OR CAUSE THE INJECTION, RELEASE OR DISPENSATION OF ANY MATERIAL WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THIS STATE FOR SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT.
B. A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE, INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITY THAT RECEIVES PUBLIC MONIES, MAY NOT PROVIDE ANY GRANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES.
C. ANY RESIDENT OF THIS STATE MAY SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION. COMPLAINTS MUST STATE THE FOLLOWING:
1. THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE RESIDENT WHO SUBMITS THE COMPLAINT.
2. THE DATE OR DATES THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OCCURRED.
3. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATION AND THE LOCATION, METHOD AND SUBSTANCES OR COMPOUNDS USED, IF KNOWN.
4. ANY APPLICABLE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE OR DOCUMENTATION.
D. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL INVESTIGATE ALL CREDIBLE COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
E. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY INVESTIGATE ANY CONDUCT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS REASONABLE SUSPICION TO BELIEVE VIOLATES THIS SECTION.
F. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY FILE AN ACTION IN THE SUPERIOR COURT ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION. IF THE COURT FINDS A VIOLATION, THE SUPERIOR COURT SHALL AWARD INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES TO THE PREVAILING PARTY. THE SUPERIOR COURT MAY AWARD OTHER RELIEF AS THE COURT FINDS NECESSARY.
G. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT" MEANS THE MODIFICATION OR ATTEMPTED MODIFICATION OF ATMOSPHERIC
REFLECTIVITY THAT MODIFIES THE AMOUNT OR INTENSITY OF SUNLIGHT THAT REACHES THE EARTH.