Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Senate Bill 56 Banning Geoengineering with Felony Penalties; Marjorie Taylor Greene Proposes Federal Ban

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 56 into law on June 20, 2025, banning geoengineering and weather modification activities in the state. The legislation prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity. The law also repeals the state's ability to issue permits for such activities. Violators face third-degree felony charges, with penalties including up to five years in prison and fines of up to $100,000.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Ileana Garcia, takes effect on July 1, 2025, and requires additional reporting from airports starting in October 2025. Following Florida's lead, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced federal legislation to ban the use of chemicals for weather modification, making it a felony offense. Greene's bill aims to prohibit the injection, release, or dispersion of substances into the atmosphere to alter weather, climate, temperature, or sunlight, mirroring Florida's legislation. The move reflects growing legislative efforts to restrict geoengineering and weather modification practices at both state and federal levels.