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OKBillHB1429Carried fwd

Environment; prohibiting certain actions; emergency.

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed one chamber
  3. Passed both chambers
  4. Passed

Oklahoma's HB1429 would ban all intentional atmospheric modification while simultaneously dismantling the state's 50-year-old Weather Modification Act, but notably lacks any enforcement mechanism or penalties for violations.

Our summary

PROHIBITION: The bill prohibits the intentional injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere within Oklahoma's borders, when done with the express purpose of affecting:

  • Temperature
  • Weather
  • Intensity of sunlight

STATUTORY FRAMEWORK CHANGES: The bill repeals the entire Oklahoma Weather Modification Act, eliminating:

  • The licensing and permit system for weather modification operators
  • The Weather Modification Division within the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
  • The Weather Modification Advisory Board
  • The Weather Modification Revolving Fund
  • Authority for state-contracted cloud seeding operations
  • Hail suppression programs
  • All regulatory oversight of weather modification activities

ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES: The bill contains NO enforcement mechanism or penalties. The prohibition is stated as a flat ban without any specified consequences for violations.

UNUSUAL PROVISIONS:

  • Declared as an "emergency" measure, meaning it would take effect immediately upon passage and approval rather than on a future date
  • The bill eliminates an entire regulatory framework (24 statutory sections) dating back to 1972 without creating any replacement oversight structure

Legislative history

HB1429 was filed for the 1st Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature (2025) by Representative Boles, with the bill text dated December 20, 2024. The bill received its First Reading on Monday, February 3, 2025, and was formally assigned to Representative Boles as the author on the same day.

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the bill received its Second Reading and was referred to the House Rules Committee. In Oklahoma, the Rules Committee serves as a gatekeeper for legislation, determining which bills advance to subject- matter committees and eventually to the House floor. Referral to Rules rather than a substantive committee like Environment is standard initial procedure, but bills can remain there indefinitely if leadership does not prioritise them.

Oklahoma operates on an annual legislative cycle. The 2025 session began February 3, 2025, with no crossover deadline listed and adjournment scheduled for May 30, 2025. Oklahoma does not automatically carry over bills between sessions, so the bill must advance this session or be refiled in 2026.

A companion bill, SB430, has also been introduced in the Senate with similar provisions but includes an explicit penalty clause and a November 1, 2025 effective date rather than emergency status.

  1. Second Reading referred to Rules
  2. Authored by Representative Boles
  3. First Reading

Bill text

Show consolidated bill text 
STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

HOUSE BILL 1429                        By: Boles


AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to the environment; prohibiting certain actions; repealing
82 O.S. 2021, Sections 1087.1, 1087.2, 1087.3, 1087.4, 1087.5, 1087.6,
1087.7, 1087.8, 1087.9, 1087.10, 1087.11, 1087.12, 1087.13, 1087.14,
1087.15, 1087.16, 1087.17, 1087.18, 1087.19, 1087.20, 1801.1, 1801.2,
1801.3, and 1801.4, which relate to the Oklahoma Weather Modification Act;
providing for codification; and declaring an emergency.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.  NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma
Statutes as Section 2-5-131 of Title 27A, unless there is created a
duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

The intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of
chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders
of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting
temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.

SECTION 2.  REPEALER  82 O.S. 2021, Sections 1087.1, 1087.2, 1087.3,
1087.4, 1087.5, 1087.6, 1087.7, 1087.8, 1087.9, 1087.10, 1087.11, 1087.12,
1087.13, 1087.14, 1087.15, 1087.16, 1087.17, 1087.18, 1087.19, 1087.20,
1801.1, 1801.2, 1801.3, and 1801.4 are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the
public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist,
by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and
after its passage and approval.


Req. No. 10148
60-1-10148  JBH  12/20/24