• Florida Senate passes SB-56, dubbed the “chemtrails bill,” by a vote of 28-9.
• The bill prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals into the atmosphere for weather or climate modification.
• It requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to set up a reporting system for suspected geoengineering activities.
• Governor Ron DeSantis supports the bill but criticizes the House version for being watered down.
• If passed, Florida would become the second state to ban geoengineering, following Tennessee.

In a significant move that has sparked both praise and controversy, the Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 56 (SB-56) on Thursday, prohibiting geoengineering and weather modification activities within the state. The bill, often referred to as the “chemtrails bill,” passed with a strong majority vote of 28-9, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over atmospheric interventions.

The bill’s provisions and public concerns

SB-56 explicitly bans the “injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.” This prohibition comes in response to widespread public concerns about the potential health and environmental impacts of geoengineering practices.

Bill sponsor Senator Ileana Garcia emphasized the importance of the legislation, noting that her constituents have repeatedly expressed concerns about “condensation trails, aka chemtrails.” She stated, “There’s a lot of skepticism. I have a problem with people spraying perfume around me sometimes, don’t you have a problem with people spraying things into the atmosphere that really have no type of empirical data, that you just don’t know who they are or what they’re doing?”

The bill also mandates that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) establish a system for residents to report suspected geoengineering activities. The FDEP will be responsible for investigating these claims, ensuring that any unauthorized atmospheric interventions are addressed promptly. This will ultimately lead to paranoid claims about jet contrails, sparking multiple investigations that come up empty.

Desantis supports a ban on chemtrails

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo voiced his support for the bill, highlighting the potential health risks associated with geoengineering. “Big thanks to Senator Garcia for leading efforts to reduce geoengineering and weather modification activities in our Florida skies,” Ladapo posted on X. “These planes release aluminum, sulfates, and other compounds with unknown and harmful effects on human health. We have to keep fighting to clean up the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.”

However, Governor Ron DeSantis, while supportive of the bill, expressed frustration with the House version, which he described as “gutted.” The House version of the bill does not outright ban weather modification but requires a license for such activities, with less severe penalties. DeSantis stated, “The Florida House of Representatives has gutted Sen. Garcia’s legislation, and they would actually codify the practice of geoengineering and weather modification.”

Broader implications and national trends

If SB-56 is passed by the Florida House and signed into law, Florida will join Tennessee as the second state to ban geoengineering. Tennessee’s law, which went into effect on July 1, 2024, sets a precedent that other states are now following. Over two dozen states, including Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and South Dakota, have introduced similar legislation in 2024 and 2025, indicating a growing national movement against atmospheric interventions.

California-based attorney Nicole Shanahan applauded the bill, emphasizing the need to expose the entities funding geoengineering projects. “Banning geoengineering at the state level is a good start, but real change happens when we expose the bad actors who have been funding these projects and are heavily invested in preventing an end to this at the federal level,” Shanahan wrote on X.

The debate over geoengineering is not new. For decades, concerns have been raised about the potential unintended consequences of large-scale atmospheric interventions. Critics argue that these practices, often funded by powerful entities like the World Economic Forum and individuals like Bill Gates, could exacerbate environmental problems rather than solve them. RFK Jr., in an interview last year, warned that these projects are often driven by a desire for more social control.

“They aggravate the problem then sell us the solution,” he explained, adding, “The solution they want is more social controls.”

As Florida stands on the brink of becoming the second state to ban geoengineering, the implications are far-reaching. The bill not only addresses immediate public health and environmental concerns but also sends a strong message about the need for transparency and accountability in scientific and technological interventions. The question remains: Will other states follow suit, and how will this movement impact the broader conversation on climate change and environmental stewardship?

Sources include:

AMGreatness.com

FLSenate.gov

WFLA.com