10/23/2026
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Florida has passed a law targeting weather modification and geoengineering activities, creating new criminal penalties for releasing substances into the atmosphere to influence weather, climate, temperature or sunlight.
The law, SB 56, makes certain weather-modification activities a third-degree felony, carrying potential penalties of up to five years in prison and fines reaching $100,000.
Publicly owned airports are also required to report aircraft suspected of being equipped for weather modification to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and law enforcement.
Supporters say the legislation brings greater transparency and oversight to activities involving atmospheric manipulation. Critics argue that the law could interfere with legitimate scientific research and atmospheric studies.
The measure has attracted attention from both scientists and people concerned about geoengineering, although they often approach the issue from very different perspectives.
Florida’s move raises a broader question about how governments should regulate technologies capable of influencing the atmosphere and where the line should be drawn between research, experimentation and public policy.