UT
Utah Senate Bill SB0126

Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah Senate Bill SB0126 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1-03-05 17:19 4th Sub. (Pumpkin) S.B. 126
2-Rex P. Shipp proposes the following substitute bill:
1+02-27 16:39 3rd Sub. (Ivory) S.B. 126
2+Bridger Bolinder proposes the following substitute bill:
33 1
44 Airborne Chemicals Amendments
55 2025 GENERAL SESSION
66 STATE OF UTAH
77 Chief Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton
88 House Sponsor: Rex P. Shipp
99 2
1010
1111 3
1212 LONG TITLE
1313 4
1414 General Description:
1515 5
1616 This bill addresses the release of airborne chemicals.
1717 6
1818 Highlighted Provisions:
1919 7
2020 This bill:
2121 8
2222 ▸ defines terms;
2323 9
24-▸ prohibits the release of a chemical or substance from an aircraft for the purpose of solar
24+▸ prohibits the release of chemicals or substances from an aircraft for the purpose of
2525 10
26-geoengineering;
26+weather geoengineering;
2727 11
28-▸ provides a means for the public to submit information regarding suspected solar
28+▸ provides a means for the public to submit information regarding suspected weather
2929 12
3030 geoengineering;
3131 13
32-▸ requires the Department of Transportation to report a credible instance of suspected solar
32+▸ requires the Department of Transportation to report credible instances of suspected
3333 14
34-geoengineering to the Utah Attorney General; and
34+weather geoengineering to the Utah Attorney General; and
3535 15
3636 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
3737 16
3838 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
3939 17
4040 None
4141 18
4242 Other Special Clauses:
4343 19
4444 None
4545 20
4646 Utah Code Sections Affected:
4747 21
4848 AMENDS:
4949 22
5050 72-10-120, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 140
5151 23
5252 ENACTS:
5353 24
5454 72-10-134, Utah Code Annotated 1953
5555 25
5656
5757 26
5858 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
5959 27
6060 Section 1. Section 72-10-120 is amended to read:
6161 28
6262 72-10-120 . Violations -- Penalty.
63-4th Sub. S.B. 126 4th Sub. (Pumpkin) S.B. 126 03-05 17:19
63+3rd Sub. S.B. 126 3rd Sub. (Ivory) S.B. 126 02-27 16:39
6464 29
6565 [A] Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person who fails to comply with the
6666 30
6767 requirements of or violates any provision of this part is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
6868 31
6969 Section 2. Section 72-10-134 is enacted to read:
7070 32
71-72-10-134 . Restrictions on release of chemicals for solar geoengineering --
71+72-10-134 . Restrictions on release of chemicals for weather geoengineering --
7272 33
7373 Criminal penalty.
7474 34
7575 (1) As used in this section:
7676 35
77-(a)(i) "Solar geoengineering" means the modification of the composition, behavior, or
77+(a) "Solar radiation management" means the release, injection, or dispersing of
7878 36
79-dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere by solar radiation management.
79+chemicals to artificially reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's
8080 37
81-(ii) "Solar geoengineering" does not include an activity described in Title 73, Chapter
81+lower atmosphere or surface.
8282 38
83-15, Modification of Weather.
83+(b)(i) "Weather geoengineering" means the modification of the composition,
8484 39
85-(b) "Solar radiation management" means the release, injection, or dispersing of a
85+behavior, or dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere by solar radiation management.
8686 40
87-chemical to artificially reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's
87+(ii) "Weather geoengineering" does not include activities described in Title 73,
8888 41
89-lower atmosphere or surface.
89+Chapter 15, Modification of Weather.
9090 42
9191 (2)(a) It is unlawful for an owner or operator of an aircraft to use or authorize the use of
9292 43
93-the aircraft in this state with the intent to cause solar geoengineering.
93+the aircraft in this state with the intent to cause weather geoengineering.
9494 44
95-(b) A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a class A misdemeanor.
95+(b) A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a third degree felony.
9696 45
9797 (3) The department shall:
9898 46
9999 (a) provide a means for a member of the public to electronically submit information
100100 47
101-regarding suspected solar geoengineering activity; and
101+regarding suspected weather geoengineering activity; and
102102 48
103-(b) report a credible instance of suspected solar geoengineering activity to the Office of
103+(b) report a credible instance of suspected geoengineering activity to the Office of the
104104 49
105-the Attorney General.
105+Attorney General.
106106 50
107-(4) This section does not create for an airport operator:
107+Section 3. Effective Date.
108108 51
109-(a) an obligation to report or monitor a solar geoengineering activity; or
110-52
111-(b) liability in relation to an aircraft using an airport for a solar geoengineering activity.
112-53
113-Section 3. Effective Date.
114-54
115109 This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
116110 - 2 -