A bill making attempts to modify the weather a third-degree felony passed the Florida Senate on Thursday – but, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) warns the House version would actually codify the “kooky” practices.
Introduced by Republican State Senator Ileana Garcia, the bill (SB 56) prohibits the introduction of any substance or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of Florida for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.
“People have got a lot of kooky ideas that they can get in and put things in the atmosphere to block the sun and save us from climate change – we’re not playing that game in Florida,” Gov. DeSantis said Wednesday, promoting the bill.
“We don’t want to indulge this nonsense in Florida, where we are proud of our sunshine,” DeSantis wrote in a social media post introducing the video.
“However, the Florida House of Representatives has gutted Sen. Garcia’s legislation and they would actually codify the practice of geoengineering and weather modification,” DeSantis said, urging the state’s citizens to tell their representatives in the House to adopt the Senate’s stipulations.
🚨 BREAKING: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces support for banning weather modification and geoengineering.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 2, 2025
"Put things into the atmosphere to block the sun and 'save us from climate change?' We're not playing that game in Florida." pic.twitter.com/BmTFn6yg4f
“For me, this is not about politics,” State Sen. Garcia wrote in a X.com post:
“It's about addressing concerns and skepticism to separate fact from fiction, all while striving to protect our environment. It highlights the critical need to monitor any activity that might endanger our air, water, and soil—essential resources.”
“Unfortunately, this issue has become politicized, with countries like China and Vietnam perceiving these technologies as means of exerting control,” Garcia added.
Under the bill, geoengineering and weather modification activities constitute a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and fines of up to $100,000. Aircraft operators and controllers are subject to a fine of up to $5,000. All fines collected must be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Trust Fund.
The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a dedicated e-mail address and online form to allow people to report suspected geoengineering and weather modification activities. DEP will investigate any report that warrants further review. The bill authorizes DEP to refer reports of observed violations to the Department of Health or the Division of Emergency Management.
Beginning on October 1, 2025, all operators of publicly owned airports must report monthly to the Department of Transportation (DOT) the presence of any aircraft equipped with any part, component, or device used for the intentional emission, injection, release, or dispersion of air contaminants into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting temperature, weather, climate, or the intensity of sunlight.
Any airport that fails to report will not receive state funds.
The bill repeals all other existing weather modification statutes and removes DEP’s authority to conduct programs of study, research, and experimentation and evaluation in the field of weather modification.