Airborne Chemicals Amendments

4
72-10-120
72-10-134
0
Airborne Chemicals Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton
House Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
Committee Note:
The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee recommended
this bill.
Legislative Vote:
10 voting for
5 voting against
4 absent
General Description:
This bill addresses the release of chemicals from aircraft.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
establishes that the release of a chemical or substance from an aircraft for the purpose of
solar geoengineering is a third-degree felony;
provides a means for a person to submit information regarding suspected solar
geoengineering;
requires the Department of Transportation to report credible instances of suspected solar
geoengineering to the Office of the Attorney General;
requires an airport operator to report suspected solar geoengineering activity to the
Department of Transportation; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
72-10-120
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 140
ENACTS:
72-10-134
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
72-10-120
is amended to read:
72-10-120
. Violations -- Penalty.
A
Except as otherwise provided in this part, a
person who fails to comply with the
requirements of or violates any provision of this part is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
Section 2. Section
72-10-134
is enacted to read:
72-10-134
. Restrictions on release of chemicals for solar geoengineering --
Criminal penalty -- Required reporting by airport operators.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Solar radiation management" means the release, injection, or dispersing of a
chemical to artificially reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's
lower atmosphere or surface.
(b)
(i)
"Solar geoengineering" means the modification of the composition, behavior,
or dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere by solar radiation management.
(ii)
"Solar geoengineering" does not include activities described in Title 73, Chapter
15, Modification of Weather.
(2)
(a)
It is unlawful for an owner or operator of an aircraft to use or authorize the use of
the aircraft in the state with the intent to cause solar geoengineering.
(b)
A violation of Subsection
(2)(a)
is a third degree felony punishable by:
(i)
imprisonment as provided in Section
76-3-203
; and
(ii)
a fine not exceeding $100,000.
(3)
The department shall:
(a)
provide a means for a person to electronically submit information regarding
suspected solar geoengineering activity; and
(b)
report a credible instance of suspected solar geoengineering activity to the Office of
the Attorney General.
(4)
An airport operator shall report to the department any suspected solar geoengineering
activity at an airport owned or operated by the airport operator.
Section 3.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
12-5-25 2:26 PM