HB 477 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Geoengineering and Weather Modification Activities

Summary

Geoengineering and Weather Modification Activities; Repeals, revises, & creates provisions of weather modification law relating to duties of DEP, prohibited activities, civil penalties, reporting & investigation of violations, & funding expenditures.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

H 477 c1 → H 477 c2 · 9 edits

MAJOR

The bill was substantially expanded from a simple weather modification law to a comprehensive geoengineering and weather modification statute. The scope now includes new prohibitions on geoengineering activities, expanded definitions, additional reporting requirements for public infrastructure, and a new civil penalty fund. The penalty for violations was increased from a misdemeanor with a $10,000 fine to a third-degree felony with a $200,000 fine.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly to include geoengineering activities alongside weather modification, repealed 11 existing statute sections, added new definitions and reporting requirements, and increased enforcement penalties substantially.

SCOPE

Title and scope expanded from 'weather modification' to 'geoengineering and weather modification' to address climate intervention technologies.

DEFINITION

Repealed 11 existing statute sections (403.281-403.401) that previously defined weather modification terms and requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added new prohibition against injecting chemicals or substances into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting temperature, weather, climate, or sunlight intensity.

Added new requirement for operators of public infrastructure to report monthly information to the Department of Transportation.

Added new provision authorizing persons who observe geoengineering or weather modification activities to report such activities to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Added requirement for the Department of Environmental Protection to establish methods for intake, screening, and investigation of reported geoengineering activities.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased penalties from misdemeanor with $10,000 fine to third-degree felony with $200,000 fine for violations.

FISCAL

Added requirement that specified moneys be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Trust Fund for specified purposes.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from July 1, 2025 to unspecified date in the new version.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 18, 2025

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of State Affairs Committee

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

PCS added to State Affairs Committee agenda

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in State Affairs Committee

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs Committee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee agenda

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs Committee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors