Sponsors (3)
The bill increases transparency and creates strong civil and criminal tools to deter unauthorized weather modification and empower states to refuse participation, but it also imposes steep per‑act penalties, withdraws federal funding and authorizations for research and response, and creates legal uncertainty that could harm farmers, researchers, innovation, and emergency preparedness.
People living near proposed weather-modification activities (especially rural communities) and the public generally gain stronger legal deterrents and enforcement against unauthorized weather modification because the bill creates criminal penalties and civil liability and clarifies enforcement authority.
Scientists, regulators, and local governments get clearer statutory definitions for geoengineering, 'atmosphere', and related terms, aligning weather activities with Clean Air and TSCA frameworks and reducing some legal ambiguity for oversight.
All Americans (taxpayers/public) gain greater transparency and avenues to flag suspected weather-modification activities because carriers must publish activity reports online and the public can submit reports by phone, email, mail, or online, with EPA empowered to investigate and refer confirmed violations.
Businesses (and potentially individuals) face severe per-act criminal and civil penalties—fines up to $100,000 and/or up to 5 years in prison per act and separate liability for each injection/release—creating major financial and liberty risks and high compliance costs that could be disproportionate for technical or routine activities.
Farmers, water managers, researchers, and rural communities lose federal research, coordinated cloud‑seeding programs, permits, and funding that currently support drought mitigation, crop yields, and climate/atmospheric science, harming livelihoods and slowing scientific progress.
Broad 'notwithstanding' and regulatory-repeal language and abrupt invalidation of prior authorizations create legal uncertainty and potential conflicts that can disrupt existing federal programs, contracts, and research activities across agencies.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by W. Greg Steube · Last progress February 9, 2026
Makes deliberate weather modification inside the United States a federal crime and civil violation, repeals federal authority for weather modification, and bars federal agencies and recipients of federal funds from conducting weather-modifying research or tests. It sets criminal fines and prison time, requires reporting systems for aircraft and suspected violations, directs EPA to investigate and refer violations to the Justice Department, and takes effect 90 days after enactment.