HB 1112 / SB 1033

The bill strengthens Tennessee’s existing ban on geoengineering and weather modification by introducing clear enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violations. Building on last year’s success in prohibiting weather modification activities, this bill ensures accountability by criminalizing the intentional injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals and substances into the atmosphere to alter temperature, weather patterns, or sunlight intensity. Additionally, it penalizes individuals or entities that supply materials for such activities if they are aware of their intended use.

Under this legislation, violations are classified as a Class A misdemeanor, carrying significant legal consequences. The bill also mandates a $100,000 fine per violation, with each instance of weather modification or supply of materials constituting a separate offense. Furthermore, the legislation grants the Tennessee Attorney General and local district attorneys investigative authority over credible reports of violations or any harmful consequences resulting from geoengineering activities.

This bill is vital to protecting Tennessee’s air, water, and agriculture from the potential harms of unauthorized weather modification. By ensuring strict enforcement, HB 1112 / SB 1033 prevents corporate and governmental actors from engaging in experimental geoengineering projects that may have unintended environmental and public health consequences. The legislation reinforces the state’s commitment to environmental sovereignty, shielding residents from external interventions that could impact climate patterns, precipitation levels, and overall atmospheric conditions.

With growing national and global concerns over geoengineering experiments, this legislation establishes Tennessee as a leader in resisting unregulated weather modification and ensures that those who attempt to manipulate the climate are held accountable.