HB 290: Enact the Atmosphere Protection Act
The bill prohibits activities that modify the atmosphere, specifically solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, and sunlight reflection methods. These activities include releasing pollutants into clouds to induce precipitation, enhancing the reflectivity of marine clouds, and deploying mirrors or reflective objects in space to deflect sunlight. The bill also prohibits the use of aircraft, balloons, drones, space-based platforms, or ground-based facilities to conduct these activities. The state highway patrol or county sheriff can issue a cease-and-desist order to individuals or entities engaging in these activities, and failure to comply can result in a third-degree felony charge. The bill imposes a mandatory prison term of 36 months and a fine of at least $500,000 for those convicted of violating the law. The law will be known as the Atmosphere Protection Act.
| May. 21, 2025 | Referred to committee: Natural Resources |
| May. 20, 2025 | Introduced |
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
H. B. No. 290
2025-2026
Representative Young
Cosponsors: Representatives Barhorst, Gross, Jones, King, Newman, Pizzulli, Robb Blasdel, Salvo, Williams, Workman
To enact section 2917.43 of the Revised Code to prohibit a person from engaging in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods, and to name the act the Atmosphere Protection Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 2917.43 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 2917.43. (A) As used in this section:
- "Cloud seeding" means a form of weather modification where a pollutant is released into clouds to induce or enhance precipitation.
- "Marine cloud brightening" means enhancing the reflectivity of low-lying marine clouds to reflect more sunlight.
- "Pollutant" means any aerosol; biologic, transbiologic, or genetically modified agent; chaff; metal; radioactive material; acid; alkali; chemical; particulate; contaminant; smart dust; smoke; soot; fume; vapor; air pollutant regulated by this state; mechanical vibration or other physical agent; waste, including materials that may be recycled, reconditioned, or reclaimed; solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal irritant; or artificially produced electric field, magnetic field, electromagnetic field, electromagnetic pulse, sound wave, sound pollution, light pollution, microwave, or ionizing or non-ionizing radiation.
- "Solar radiation modification" means an experiment in the earth's climatic system involving the release of pollutants that reduces the amount of sunlight absorbed by the earth, including through marine cloud brightening, space-based reflectors, or stratospheric aerosol injection.
- "Space-based reflectors" means deploying mirrors or other reflective objects in space to deflect sunlight.
- "Stratospheric aerosol injection" means introducing reflective particles into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight.
(B) No person or entity shall engage in solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods in this state, including through the use of an aircraft, balloon, drone, space-based platform, or interoperable ground-based facility.
(C) The superintendent of the state highway patrol or a county sheriff shall issue a cease-and-desist order to a person who the superintendent or sheriff determines is conducting or attempting to conduct solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, or sunlight reflection methods. No person shall fail to comply with a cease and desist order issued under this division.
(D) A violation of this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a third degree felony and the court shall impose a mandatory prison term of thirty-six months on the offender and, notwithstanding section 2929.18 of the Revised Code, a fine of not less than five hundred thousand dollars.
Section 2. This act shall be known as the Atmosphere Protection Act.