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LABillSB46Passed

To prohibit the intentional release, or dispersion of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature. (8/1/25)

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

Louisiana becomes the latest state to enact a geoengineering prohibition, but uniquely accomplishes this by simultaneously repealing its existing weather modification licensing framework, effectively transitioning from regulated permission to outright ban.

Enacted as Act No. 95 of the 2025 Regular Session.

Our summary

Primary Prohibition: The bill enacts R.S. 30:2057(A)(3), prohibiting any person from intentionally injecting, releasing, applying, or dispersing, by any means, a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of Louisiana for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight. Exemptions: The prohibition does not apply to:

Injection, release, or dispersal under one thousand feet above ground level of fire retardant or fire suppressant substances for purposes of extinguishing or suppressing fire Aerial application under one thousand feet above ground level of seeds, fertilisers, or pesticides for agriculture or forestry purposes

Reporting Mechanism: Any person who observes an activity that may violate this provision may report the observed activity to the Department of Environmental Quality. The department must establish intake procedures for such reports, including the capability to accept electronic submissions. The department receives reports for data collection purposes and must make them publicly available through the department's website or the Electronic Document Management System.

Repeal of Existing Law: The bill repeals Chapter 25 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 37:2201 through 2208), which comprised Louisiana's existing weather modification licensing and regulatory framework. This eliminates the prior permitting system for weather modification activities.

Penalties: The bill does not create new penalty provisions specific to this prohibition. However, placement within R.S. 30:2057 (the Environmental Quality Act's general prohibitions section) subjects violations to the existing penalty structure under that chapter.

Effective Date: August 1, 2025.

Legislative history

SB 46 was prefiled on March 31, 2025, by Senators Fesi, Cloud, and Hodges, along with twelve House co-sponsors, and provisionally referred to the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. The bill was formally introduced on April 14, the first day of Louisiana's 2025 Regular Session, and referred to the Environmental Quality Committee. The committee reported the bill with amendments on April 22, and the full Senate passed the amended bill on April 28 by a vote of 27-12, sending it to the House.

House consideration proceeded through the Natural Resources and Environment Committee, which reported the bill favorably with amendments on May 20 by a unanimous 12-0 vote. After Legislative Bureau review and floor amendments, the House passed the bill on May 29 by a vote of 58-33. The Senate concurred with House amendments unanimously (35-0) on June 1. The bill was enrolled, signed by the President of the Senate on June 2 and the Speaker of the House on June 3, and sent to the Governor. The governor signed the bill on June 8, 2025, making it Act No. 95 with an effective date of August 1, 2025.

  1. Effective date 8/1/2025.
  2. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 95.
  3. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.
  4. Signed by the Speaker of the House.
  5. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.
  6. Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.
  7. Received from the House with amendments.
  8. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 58, nays 33. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
  9. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/29/2025.
  10. Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.
  11. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
  12. Reported with amendments (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
  13. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
  14. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
  15. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 12 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
  16. Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.
  17. Reported with amendments.
  18. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.
  19. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.

Bill text

Show consolidated bill text 
2025 Regular Session
ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 46
BY SENATORS FESI, CLOUD AND HODGES AND REPRESENTATIVES AMEDEE, BAYHAM, BRYANT, COATES, CREWS, DICKERSON, EDMONSTON, EGAN, HORTON, MCCORMICK, OWEN AND SCHAMERHORN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
AN ACT
To enact R.S. 30:2057(A)(3) and to repeal Chapter 25 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 37:2201 through 2208, relative to the intentional release of substances into the atmosphere to affect weather or temperature; to provide for prohibitions; and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
Section 1. R.S. 30:2057(A)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:

Prohibitions; exceptions

A. No person shall:
(3) Intentionally inject, release, apply, or disperse, by any means, a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to the injection, release, or dispersal under one thousand feet above ground level of fire retardant or fire suppressant substances for purposes of extinguishing or suppressing fire, or to the aerial application under one thousand feet above ground level of seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides for agriculture or forestry purposes.
(a) Any person who observes an activity which may be conducted in violation of this Subsection may report the observed activity to the department.
(b) The department shall establish procedures for the intake of reports made pursuant to this Subsection, which shall allow for electronic submittal. The department may adopt any rules as necessary to implement this Subsection.
(c) The department shall receive the reports for the purpose of data collection and shall make the reports publicly available through the department's website or the Electronic Document Management System.
Section 2. Chapter 25 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 37:2201 through 2208, is hereby repealed.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
ACT No. 95