Florida legislative session daily update March 26: Banning weather modification, veto override, more

Banning geoengineering, weather modification activities

• What it does: SB 56 prohibits geoengineering and weather modification activities and increases fines for violations from $500 to $100,000.
  • Specifically, the bill prohibits the “injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.”
• Sponsors: Sen. Ileana Garcia is carrying the Senate bill while Rep. Kevin Steele is carrying the House bill, HB 477.
• Opposition: Adam Doricko, CEO of Rainmaker Corp., a cloud seeding company, spoke against the bill, arguing that cloud seeding can help alleviate drought conditions by enhancing rainfall from existing clouds.
  • Doricko highlighted that 14.8 million acres of Florida are currently experiencing moderate to severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and cited recent wildfires that burned 30,000 acres in Miami-Dade County due to insufficient water.
• Next steps: The Senate bill passed 20-4 and will advance for a full vote on the floor. The House bill has two more committee stops.

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