Florida bill moves to ban weather modification amid ‘chemtrails’ conspiracy

• The Florida Senate passed a bill to ban weather-modification projects, aiming to prohibt the release of chemicals into the atmosphere to alter the climate. These activities have been linked to “chemtrails” by conspiracy theorists who believe the government is deliberately spraying harmful substances into the atmosphere.
• Under the proposed legislation in Florida, those found participating in weather-modification efforts could face third-degree felony charges, including fines up to $100,000 and potential prison time.
• Similar legislative efforts have also occurred in Alabama and Tennessee, while Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has encouraged state-level bans on geoengineering.

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The Florida Senate passed a bill prohibiting weather-modification projects, which some conspiracy theorists call “chemtrails.” This measure aims to prevent the intentional release of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere to alter the climate.

What would this bill do if enacted?

If enacted, the legislation would establish a system for reporting suspected weather modification activities to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for further investigation.

Under the bill, individuals or corporations involved in geoengineering or weather modification could face third-degree felony charges, with penalties of up to $100,000 in fines. Aircraft operators or controllers found in violation could be fined up to $5,000 and face up to five years in prison.

Why is this legislation being introduced?

The bill’s sponsor, Republican State Sen. Ileana Garcia of Miami, argued that weather-modification activities currently lack regulation at both the state and federal levels. She cited concerns about various geoengineering techniques, such as rock weathering, solar radiation modification and cloud seeding, as justification for legislative action.

“It seems very concerning to me,” Garcia said. “I have a problem with people spraying perfume next to me sometimes. Don’t you have a problem with people spraying things into the atmosphere that really have no type of empirical data?”

Does Florida’s governor support the bill?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed support for this effort to “ban geoengineering and weather modification,” saying in a post on X that his state would not “indulge this nonsense.”

“People 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,” DeSantis said. “We’re not playing that game in Florida.”

How is the conspiracy over “chemtrails” related to this?

The debate over geoengineering has been intensified by conspiracy theories surrounding “chemtrails.” Some believe these activities involve the government deliberately spraying harmful chemicals or bioagents into the atmosphere, though scientists have debunked such claims.

However, skepticism regarding weather modification persists, with a 2017 study by Harvard researchers finding that 60% of online discussions about geoengineering center on conspiracy theories.

What happens next?

Legislation similar to Florida’s has also been proposed in Alabama. Additionally, Tennessee passed a ban on releasing airborne chemicals in early 2024. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. encouraged state-level bans on geoengineering.