UTBillSB0126Enacting Clause Struck
Airborne Chemicals Amendments
- Introduced
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Passed
Utah's failed geoengineering bill carved out explicit protection for traditional cloud seeding while targeting solar radiation management activities, establishing felony penalties but offering no enforcement mechanism beyond criminal prosecution and relying entirely on citizen reports filtered through the Department of Transportation.
Enacting clause struck — the bill was pulled to save floor time after leaders saw it had no chance of passing before the session ended.
Our summary
Prohibition: The bill would have made it illegal for aircraft owners or operators in Utah to use or allow the use of aircraft to cause weather geoengineering intentionally. This means changing the atmosphere’s makeup, behaviour, or movement by managing solar radiation. Examples include releasing, injecting, or spreading chemicals to block sunlight from reaching the lower atmosphere or ground.
Crime: Breaking this law would be a third-degree felony. This is a more serious charge than the usual class B misdemeanour for other rules under Title 72, Chapter 10.
Exemption: Traditional cloud seeding is not considered weather geoengineering. It is allowed under Title 73, Chapter 15 (Modification of Weather). Cloud seeding is the addition of substances to clouds to help produce rain or snow. It does not change the overall makeup of the atmosphere like geoengineering does.
Reports: The Department of Transportation would need to make an online way for people to report possible weather geoengineering. If a report seems believable, the department would send it to the Utah Attorney General.
Enforcement: The bill does not include any special enforcement tools besides criminal charges. There are no civil fines, court orders, or aircraft seizures.
Legislative history
SB0126 was introduced on January 21, 2025, by Senator Ronald Winterton with Representative Rex Shipp as House sponsor. The bill moved efficiently through the Senate, receiving committee substitution and a favourable recommendation from the Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee on February 5. After brief circling procedures on the second and third readings, the Senate passed the bill on February 24.
The House received the bill on February 25 and assigned it to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee, which recommended a third substitute version on February 27. The committee's substitute returned to the Rules Committee due to fiscal impact, then advanced to the House third reading calendar on March 3. However, on March 7—the final day of Utah's 2025 legislative session—the House struck the enacting clause, effectively killing the bill. When a legislature strikes the enacting clause, it removes the provision that would make the bill law upon the governor's signature, rendering the entire measure void. The bill was returned to the Senate and filed as legislation not passed.
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Senate/ filed in Senate file for bills not passed
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Senate/ received from House in Senate Secretary
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House/ to Senate in Senate Secretary
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House/ strike enacting clause in Clerk of the House
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House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules in House Rules Committee
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House/ 2nd reading in House 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate bills
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House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar in House 3rd Reading Calendar for Senate bills
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House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact in House Rules Committee
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House/ comm rpt/ substituted in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
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House Comm - Favorable Recommendation in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
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House Comm - Substitute Recommendation in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
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House/ to standing committee in House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
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House/ 1st reading (Introduced) in House Rules Committee
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House/ received from Senate in Clerk of the House
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Senate/ to House in Clerk of the House
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Senate/ passed 3rd reading in Clerk of the House
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Senate/ uncircled in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ circled in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ 3rd reading in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ passed 2nd reading in Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ floor amendment in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ uncircled in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ circled in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ 2nd reading in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar in Senate 2nd Reading Calendar
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Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
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Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
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Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
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Senate/ to standing committee in Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
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Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) in Senate Rules Committee
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Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst in Waiting for Introduction in the Senate
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Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research in Waiting for Introduction in the Senate
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Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed in Legislative Research and General Counsel
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Bill Numbered but not Distributed in Legislative Research and General Counsel
Bill text
Show consolidated bill text
Bill Text: 3rd Substitute S.B. 126 Bridger Bolinder proposes the following substitute bill: Airborne Chemicals Amendments 2025 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton House Sponsor: Rex P. Shipp LONG TITLE General Description: This bill addresses the release of airborne chemicals. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: ▸ defines terms; ▸ prohibits the release of chemicals or substances from an aircraft for the purpose of weather geoengineering; ▸ provides a means for the public to submit information regarding suspected weather geoengineering; ▸ requires the Department of Transportation to report credible instances of suspected weather geoengineering to the Utah Attorney General; and ▸ makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 72-10-120, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 140 ENACTS: 72-10-134, Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 72-10-120 is amended to read: 72-10-120. Violations -- Penalty. Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person who fails to comply with the requirements of or violates any provision of this part is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Section 2. Section 72-10-134 is enacted to read: 72-10-134. Restrictions on release of chemicals for weather geoengineering -- Criminal penalty. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Solar radiation management" means the release, injection, or dispersing of chemicals to artificially reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's lower atmosphere or surface. (b)(i) "Weather geoengineering" means the modification of the composition, behavior, or dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere by solar radiation management. (ii) "Weather geoengineering" does not include activities described in Title 73, Chapter 15, Modification of Weather. (2)(a) It is unlawful for an owner or operator of an aircraft to use or authorize the use of the aircraft in this state with the intent to cause weather geoengineering. (b) A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a third degree felony. (3) The department shall: (a) provide a means for a member of the public to electronically submit information regarding suspected weather geoengineering activity; and (b) report a credible instance of suspected geoengineering activity to the Office of the Attorney General. Section 3. Effective Date. This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
Supplementary documents
Fiscal Note: 3rd Sub. S.B. 126 (Ivory) 2025 General Session Airborne Chemicals Amendments by Winterton, Ronald M. (Bolinder, Bridger) General, Income Tax, and Uniform School Funds (JR4-4-101)
| Ongoing | One-time | Total | |
| Net GF/ITF/USF (rev.-exp.) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Revenues | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 |
| Total Revenues | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Expenditures | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 |
| Aeronautics Restricted Account | $0 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Total Expenditures | $0 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | |
| Net All Funds | $0 | $(2,000) | $(2,000) |