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IDBillS1167Passed

Repeals existing law to remove provisions regarding weather modification.

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

Idaho is cleaning house by repealing a dormant 1970s-era weather modification district law that was used by only one district and has sat unused for roughly 50 years. Unlike other states that have passed new geoengineering prohibitions, this is legislative housekeeping rather than a policy statement against weather modification.

As of 1 July 2025, Idaho will scrap the old rule that allowed counties to set up special “weather-modification districts.” Those districts—small local bodies that could tax residents to fund cloud-seeding or other weather-control projects—will be dissolved.

Our summary

This bill does not introduce any new rules. Instead, it fully repeals Chapter 43, Title 22 of the Idaho Code. That chapter set up the process for creating local "Weather Modification Districts" as special taxing districts with the power to conduct cloud seeding and other weather modification activities. Repealing this chapter takes away the legal basis for:

Formation of weather modification districts by county commissioners Taxing authority for such districts Governance structure for district operations

There are no penalties or enforcement measures in this bill because it only removes an existing legal framework and does not create any new restrictions. The bill has an emergency clause so that it will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Official description

WEATHER MODIFICATION DISTRICTS -- Repeals existing law to remove provisions regarding weather modification.

Legislative history

S1167 moved through the Idaho Legislature with remarkable speed and strong bipartisan support. Introduced on March 10, 2025, the bill cleared the Senate in just nine days with a near-unanimous 34-0-1 vote. The House proved slightly more contentious, passing it 55-13-2 on March 27, but the bill still moved through that chamber in only seven days. Governor Little signed it into law on April 1, 2025, as Session Law Chapter 254.

The bill's referral to Revenue & Taxation in the House (rather than a natural resources committee) reflects its true character as the elimination of an unused taxing district rather than a substantive change in weather modification policy. The emergency clause—which bypasses the standard delayed effective date for Idaho legislation—appears to be a procedural choice to ensure clean statutory cleanup rather than an indication of urgent policy concerns.

  1. Session Law Chapter 254 Effective: 07/01/2025
  2. Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
  3. Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
  4. Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
  5. Returned From House Passed; referred to enrolling
  6. to Senate
  7. Title apvd
  8. Read Third Time in Full -- PASSED 55-13-2
  9. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
  10. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
  11. Read First Time, Referred to Revenue & Taxation
  12. Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
  13. to House
  14. Title apvd
  15. Read third time in full -- PASSED 34-0-1
  16. Read second time; filed for Third Reading
  17. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
  18. Reported Printed; referred to Resources & Environment
  19. Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing

Bill text

Show consolidated bill text 
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session - 2025
IN THE SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1167
BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
AN ACT
RELATING TO WEATHER MODIFICATION DISTRICTS; REPEALING CHAPTER 43, TITLE
22, IDAHO CODE, RELATING TO WEATHER MODIFICATION DISTRICTS; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 43, Title 22, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby
declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after
July 1, 2025.

Supplementary documents

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

RS32561 / S1167

This legislation is to repeal Chapter 43, Title 22 of Idaho code titled Weather Modification District. This taxing district has not been utilized since the 1970's and was only used by one district in the state during the 1970's. There are no such districts in operation today.

FISCAL NOTE

This legislation is not expected to have any negative impact on the state, county or city budgets as it is removing a taxing district that is not in use.

Contact:

Senator Tammy Nichols
(208) 332-1000

Representative Tanya Burgoyne
(208) 332-1000

DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).

Bill SOP/FN INTRODUCED: 03/10/2025, 4:10 PM