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Which specific states have introduced geoengineering ban bills?
Executive summary
Reporting shows a large and growing wave of state-level proposals targeting “geoengineering” and related weather-modification activities: outlets and trackers count anywhere from about 10 states up to “dozens,” with several specific states repeatedly named such as Tennessee (already enacted), Florida, Kentucky, Arizona, Iowa, Montana, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Wyoming and others [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. Exact totals differ by source—SRM360 cites proposals in 30 states while E&E News and others report “at least 25” states, and some local outlets cite smaller lists [1] [6] [2].
1. What the sources actually say about which states introduced bills
Coverage names a recurring group of states where bills have been filed or debated: Tennessee (first to enact a ban), Kentucky, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Montana, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Wyoming and several others; national trackers and news outlets vary on the roster and count [5] [2] [3] [4] [7]. SRM360’s tally reports proposals in 30 states as of April 2025, while E&E News says lawmakers in “at least 25” states have introduced legislation, and local news items list smaller subsets that include Kentucky, Arizona, Iowa and Florida among those with active bills [1] [6] [3] [8].
2. Why counts differ: methodology, definitions, and timing
Disagreement among outlets stems from different definitions (bans that cover only solar radiation management vs. broader weather modification including cloud seeding), different cut‑off dates, and whether draft filings, committee bills or enacted laws are counted. For example, SRM360’s analysis uses a broad tracking approach and reports 30 states with proposals [1], while E&E News reports “at least 25” states and emphasizes solar geoengineering specifically [6]. Some state bills target both historic practices like cloud seeding and theoretical solar geoengineering, which makes comparisons inconsistent [8] [9].
3. Notable enacted or advanced examples cited in reporting
Tennessee is repeatedly identified as the first state to enact a ban on geoengineering [5]. Florida passed Senate Bill 56 in 2025 criminalizing certain weather-modification acts and drawing headlines for felony penalties; reporting details Governor intent to sign and a strong House vote [4]. Arizona’s House Bill 2056 and Iowa’s House File 191 are singled out as recent GOP-sponsored measures seeking broad prohibitions on geoengineering and related activities [8] [3]. Montana and Arizona passed or moved bills in their Senates at points but faced divergence over whether to exclude cloud seeding [9].
4. Political and cultural context driving the bills
Multiple outlets emphasize the bills’ political mix: proponents often express distrust of government programs and cite visible “streaks in the skies,” while reporting and experts warn many measures are driven by conspiracy narratives such as “chemtrails” and by far‑right or anti‑expert groups [10] [2] [6]. Legal and academic voices caution that bans could preclude legitimate research and cloud‑seeding programs that already provide local benefits [10] [3]. Analysts note an unusual convergence of libertarian‑right and populist environmental skepticism fueling the legislative wave [11].
5. What’s not reliably documented in these sources
Available sources do not provide a single, authoritative list enumerating every state with an introduced bill at a single point in time; counts and state lists vary by outlet and date [1] [6] [11]. Detailed bill texts, current committee status for every state, and comprehensive day‑by‑day tracking beyond the cited snapshots are not compiled in one place in these articles [1] [6].
6. How to interpret these reports and what to watch next
The consistent signals are: (a) a broad, cross‑country legislative trend exists; (b) Tennessee and Florida are high‑profile examples (one enacted, one passed in 2025 reporting) [5] [4]; and (c) counts vary because definitions and reporting windows differ [1] [6]. If you need a definitive, current roster for policymaking or research, consult a live legislative tracker or the state legislative websites for each state named in reporting—those primary sources are not consolidated within the articles cited here [1] [6] [9].
Bottom line: multiple reputable trackers and news outlets document a substantial surge in state bills to ban geoengineering, but they disagree on the exact number and which bills qualify—readers should treat lists as indicative, check bill language (cloud seeding vs. solar radiation management), and follow state legislative records for confirmations [1] [6] [9].