Read the full stored bill text
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:
(1)
"Cloud seeding" means a form of weather modification where
a pollutant is released into clouds to induce or enhance
precipitation.
(2)
"Marine cloud brightening" means enhancing the reflectivity
of low-lying marine clouds to reflect more sunlight.
(3)
"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.
(4)
"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.
(5)
"Space-based reflectors" means deploying mirrors or other
reflective objects in space to deflect sunlight.
(6)
"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.