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VABillHB1425Laid on table

Geoengineering; prohibited, civil penalties.

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

Virginia's HB 1425 takes a minimalist approach to geoengineering prohibition, adding just three short subsections to existing air pollution law and relying entirely on standard civil penalty mechanisms rather than creating new criminal offences or specialised enforcement structures.

House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Subcommittee recommended laying on the table (9-Y 1-N)

Our summary

Definition: "Geoengineering" means the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.

Prohibition: No person shall engage in geoengineering in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Penalties: Violations are subject to civil penalties authorised under existing Virginia Code sections 10.1-1309 or 10.1-1316. These are Virginia's standard air pollution civil penalty provisions:

  • Section 10.1-1309 authorises civil penalties up to $32,500 per day per violation for air pollution control violations
  • Section 10.1-1316 addresses special orders and civil penalties for violations of Board orders, permits, or regulations

Notable Features:

  • Civil penalties only (no criminal provisions)
  • Placed within the existing Air Pollution Control Law framework (Title 10.1, Chapter 13)
  • No carve-outs or exemptions specified
  • No specific enforcement mechanisms beyond standard air pollution enforcement

Official description

Geoengineering prohibited; civil penalties. Prohibits any person from engaging in geoengineering, defined in the bill as the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight, in the Commonwealth. The bill provides that any person who violates such prohibition shall be subject to civil penalties authorized by relevant law.

Legislative history

HB 1425 was introduced on January 22, 2026, the last day before the filing deadline for prefiled bills in Virginia's short session. The bill was presented and ordered printed, with the committee referral still pending at introduction. Like Mississippi's SB 2666, this bill carries the "By Request" designation through Delegate Griffin, indicating that the legislation originated with a constituent or an outside party rather than the delegate's own initiative.

Virginia's 2026 session is notably compressed, with a crossover deadline of March 4, 2026 and final adjournment scheduled for March 14, 2026. This gives the bill approximately six weeks from introduction to final passage. Virginia's even-year "short sessions" are limited to 30 days for new legislation (60 days in odd years), creating significant time pressure for bills that don't receive early committee hearings.

  1. Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources
  2. Committee meeting: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee. Read our write-up
  3. Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (9-Y 1-N)
  4. Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources
  5. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
  6. Presented and ordered printed 26100368D

Bill text

Show consolidated bill text 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1425
Offered January 22, 2026
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 10.1 a section numbered 10.1-1322.6, relating to geoengineering prohibited; civil penalties.
Patron: Griffin (By Request)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 10.1 a section numbered 10.1-1322.6 as follows:

Section 10.1-1322.6. Geoengineering prohibited; civil penalties.
A. For the purpose of this section, "geoengineering" means the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.
B. No person shall engage in geoengineering in the Commonwealth.
C. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to the civil penalties authorised pursuant to Section 10.1-1309 or 10.1-1316.