Florida Governor Ron DeSantis takes a stand against unnatural weather manipulation by signing a bill that makes weather modification a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Ron DeSantis signed CS/CS/SB 56, effectively banning all weather modification and geoengineering activities in Florida.
- The new law repeals previous provisions that allowed weather modification permits and makes such activities a third-degree felony.
- Florida will create a public portal for reporting suspected weather modification and require airports to report planes with weather modification equipment.
- The bill passed with strong bipartisan support: 28-9 in the Senate and 82-28 in the House.
- DeSantis emphasized that “Florida is not a testing ground for geoengineering” and opposes climate change mitigation through atmospheric manipulation.
DeSantis Leads Charge Against Weather Manipulation
In a decisive move affirming Florida’s commitment to natural weather patterns, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 56 into law, prohibiting all weather modification techniques within the state. The legislation, which goes into effect July 1, 2025, completely repeals existing provisions that previously allowed for weather modification permits and replaces them with strict prohibitions against any attempts to artificially influence weather systems. Under the new law, activities intended to affect temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity in Florida’s atmosphere are explicitly forbidden, positioning the state as a leader in protecting natural meteorological conditions from human interference.
I support the bill by Senator @IleanaGarciaUSA to ban geoengineering and weather modification.
The Florida house, though, has gutted the bill and actually codified the practices.
We don’t want to indulge this nonsense in Florida, where we are proud of our sunshine. pic.twitter.com/ir8IYlza4z
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 2, 2025
“Florida is not a testing ground for geoengineering. We already do not permit this activity, and I will be signing SB 56 to prohibit the practice in our skies. The Free State of Florida means freedom from governments or private actors unilaterally applying chemicals or geoengineering to people or public spaces,” Governor Ron DeSantis stated.
Severe Penalties and Enforcement Mechanisms
The new legislation takes a hard-line approach by classifying weather modification as a third-degree felony, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and fines reaching $100,000. This represents one of the strictest weather modification laws in the nation. To ensure compliance, the bill mandates that state environmental officials create a public portal specifically designed for reporting suspected weather modification activities. Additionally, publicly owned airports throughout Florida will now be required to report any aircraft equipped with weather modification technology to the Florida Department of Transportation, creating a comprehensive monitoring system to prevent violations.
“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 — we’re not playing that game in Florida,” Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized.
Florida: Gov. DeSantis signs bill banning weather modification https://t.co/PTregiYYNM
— One America News (@OANN) June 21, 2025
Addressing Public Concerns About “Chemtrails”
The legislation was spearheaded by Senator Ileana Garcia, who noted that the bill aimed to address growing public concerns about artificial weather manipulation and atmospheric tampering. During Senate discussions, lawmakers addressed the controversial topic of “chemtrails” – condensation trails from aircraft that some believe contain chemicals designed to affect weather patterns or even control minds. While scientists have repeatedly debunked these theories, explaining that condensation trails are simply water vapor, the widespread public concern motivated lawmakers to take action and create clear legal boundaries around weather modification.
“Many of us senators receive concerns and complaints regularly regarding these condensation trails, aka chemtrails. There’s a lot of skepticism with regards to this, and basically what I wanted to do with this is try to look for a way to separate fact from fiction,” Senator Ileana Garcia explained.
Strong Bipartisan Support Despite No Prior Permit Requests
The legislation passed with substantial bipartisan support, securing 28 Yeas against 9 Nays in the Senate and 82 Yeas against 28 Nays in the House. This overwhelming backing came although, according to state records, no institutions in Florida have previously sought permits for weather modification activities. The strong support for the bill signals a preventative approach to geoengineering rather than a response to existing problems. Florida lawmakers are establishing that the state will not serve as an experimental ground for atmospheric manipulation, regardless of the stated purpose.
DeSantis Opposes Climate Engineering Solutions
Governor DeSantis made it clear that his administration fundamentally opposes technological climate interventions. By signing this bill, he has positioned Florida in direct opposition to emerging geoengineering proposals that some scientists suggest could mitigate climate change effects through atmospheric modifications. The legislation effectively prevents any future attempts to implement solar radiation management or other techniques designed to reflect sunlight away from Earth within Florida’s airspace. This stance aligns with DeSantis’ broader skepticism toward what he considers overreaching climate policies and reinforces Florida’s commitment to addressing environmental concerns through natural rather than artificial means.
