South Dakota : 2026 Regular Session : BILL HB1294
Prohibit geoengineering in this state.
Sponsor: Rep Bobbi Andera & Rep Aaron Aylward & Rep Heather Baxter & Rep Phil Jensen & Rep Dylan Jordan & Rep Brandei Schaefbauer & Rep John Sjaarda
Bill Details
Prohibit geoengineering in this state.
GeoLawWatch Bill Summary
This bill creates a simple prohibition on geoengineering in South Dakota and adds it to Chapter 34A-1 (the state's environmental protection statutes).
The prohibition covers "geoengineering," defined as intentional, large-scale intervention in the Earth's climate system to counteract climate change through either removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or reflecting sunlight away from Earth.
Penalty: Violation is a Class 6 felony. In South Dakota, a Class 6 felony carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a $4,000 fine.
Notable gaps: The bill contains no enforcement mechanism, no designated enforcement agency, no civil penalties, no funding provisions, and no reporting requirements. The definition requires activities to be "large-scale" and intended "to counteract climate change," which could create interpretive challenges for prosecution. Cloud seeding and weather modification are not explicitly addressed, though they would likely fall outside this definition since they are not typically characterised as climate change countermeasures.
History
HB 1294 was introduced by Representative Andera for the 101st Legislative Session. No legislative history events have been recorded yet, indicating the bill was recently filed and has not yet received a committee assignment or other procedural action.
South Dakota's 2026 session began January 13, 2026, with a bill introduction deadline of February 4, 2026, a crossover deadline of February 24, 2026, and a final adjournment scheduled for March 30, 2026. Without an effective date clause, any enacted legislation would take effect on July 1, 2026, per South Dakota's standard statutory effective date.
- Wed 04 Feb 2026 First read in House and referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources H.J. 217
- Thu 12 Feb 2026 Scheduled for hearing H.J. 1
- Thu 12 Feb 2026 Agriculture and Natural Resources Motion to amend, Passed H.J. 22 Amendment 1294C
- Thu 12 Feb 2026 Agriculture and Natural Resources Deferred to the 41st legislative day, Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 3. H.J. 22
- Thu 12 Feb 2026 MEETING House Agriculture and Natural Resources
Consolidated Bill Text
101st Legislative Session
1294
2026 South Dakota Legislature
House Bill 1294
Introduced by: Representative Andera
An Act to prohibit geoengineering in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 34A-1:
No person may engage in geoengineering in this state.
A violation of this section is a Class 6 felony.
For purposes of this section, "geoengineering" means the intentional, large-scale intervention in the earth's climate system to counteract climate change by:
(1) Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; or
(2) Reflecting sunlight away from earth.