Arizona : 2026 Regular Session : BILL SB1098

GeoLawWatch Bill Summary

Prohibition: The bill prohibits the intentional injection, release, or dispensing of any chemical, compound, substance, or apparatus within Arizona to affect temperature, climate, weather, or sunlight intensity. Delivery methods include aircraft, balloons, drones, rockets, and ground-based systems.

Exemptions:

Normal aircraft contrails are described as being composed solely of water vapour.
Emissions from lawful industrial, agricultural, or transportation activities are not categorised as activities intended to alter the weather or climate.
Fire suppression, emergency response, and public safety activities

Enforcement: The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will set up rules for a complaint process. If the department gets credible violation reports, it can investigate and may work with state or federal authorities.

Penalties:

Criminal: This is a Class 4 felony in Arizona. A first offence can lead to a sentence of 1 to 3.75 years in prison.
Civil: Each violation can result in a fine of up to $100,000. Every act counts as a separate violation.

Regulatory Change: The bill removes Title 45, Chapter 9, which is Arizona’s current Weather Modification law. This law established a permit system for activities intended to deliberately modify (change) the weather, managed by the Department of Water Resources.

History

Following its Prefile in early January to ensure readiness for the legislative session, the bill was formally Introduced and underwent its First Reading in the Senate, which officially places the title of the legislation on the record. It was subsequently Assigned to two committees: the Natural Resources (NR) Committee, where members will evaluate the specific policy merits of the proposal, and the Rules Committee, which acts as a procedural checkpoint to verify the bill's constitutionality and proper technical drafting. This dual-committee referral ensures the legislation is both policy-sound and legally compliant before it can be considered for a full Senate vote.

Wed 07 Jan 2026 Prefile
Mon 12 Jan 2026 Introduced in Senate and read first time
Mon 12 Jan 2026 Assigned to Senate NR Committee
Mon 12 Jan 2026 Assigned to Senate RULES Committee
Wed 14 Jan 2026 Senate read second time

Consolidated Bill Text

PREFILED JAN 07 2026

State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026

SB 1098

Introduced by Senator Kavanagh

AN ACT

AMENDING SECTION 45-117, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES; REPEALING TITLE 45, CHAPTER 9, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES; AMENDING TITLE 49, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE
1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 49-119; RELATING TO CLIMATE MODIFICATION.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 45-117, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

45-117. Water resources fund; purpose; monies held in trust

A. The water resources fund is established to be maintained in perpetuity consisting of:

1. Except as provided in section 45-113, subsection F, monies received pursuant to sections 45-113, 45-115, 45-116, 45-183, 45-273, 45-292, 45-411.01, 45-467, 45-476.01, 45-595, 45-612, 45-703, 45-871.01, 45-874.01, 45-1021, 45-1041, and 45-1205.

2. Monies appropriated by the legislature to the water resources fund.

3. Gifts, grants and donations to the fund from any public or private source.

4. Interest and other income received from investing monies in the fund.

B. Monies in the fund are subject to legislative appropriation. Monies remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year remain in the fund and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.

C. Monies in the fund shall be used exclusively by the department of water resources to carry out the purposes of this title and shall not be appropriated for any other purpose.

D. The director shall administer the fund. On notice from the director, the state treasurer shall invest and divest the monies in the fund as provided by section 35-313 and monies earned from investment shall be credited to the fund.

E. Any fee, assessment or other levy that is authorized by law or administrative rule and that is collected and deposited in the water resources fund shall be held in trust. The monies in the fund may only be used for the purposes prescribed by statute and shall not be appropriated or transferred by the legislature to fund the general operations of this state or to otherwise meet the obligations of the general fund of this state. This subsection does not apply to any taxes or other levies that are imposed pursuant to title 42 or 43.

Sec. 2. Repeal

Title 45, chapter 9, Arizona Revised Statutes, is repealed.

Sec. 3. Title 49, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 49-119, to read:

49-119. Geoengineering; prohibition; exceptions; rules; violation; classification; civil penalty

A. Notwithstanding any other law, a person may not intentionally inject, release or dispense by any means, including by aircraft, balloon, drone, rocket, ground-based system or any other means, any chemical, chemical compound, substance or apparatus within the borders of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature, climate, weather or the intensity of sunlight.

B. This section does not apply to the following:

1. Normal aircraft operations that result in condensation trails composed solely of water vapor.

2. Emissions from lawful industrial, agricultural or transportation activities that are not intended to alter weather or climate.

3. Fire suppression, emergency response or public safety activities.

C. The department shall adopt rules to establish a process for a person to submit a complaint or allege a violation of this section. On receipt of a credible report of a violation of this section, the department may investigate and coordinate with applicable state or federal authorities.

D. A person that violates this section is guilty of a class 4 felony. The department shall impose a civil penalty of not more than $100,000 per violation. Each act is a separate violation.