Air Quality Act
Sponsored By: Representative Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Introduced
Summary
This bill creates a nationwide ban on weather modification, forbidding releases or injections into the atmosphere intended to change temperature, weather, climate, or sunlight and removing existing federal authority to permit such activities. It also sets up public reporting, agency investigations, and civil and criminal penalties to deter and punish violations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban on weather modification and research
This bill would ban knowingly authorizing or conducting "weather modification" in the United States. It would define weather modification to include cloud seeding, solar radiation management, stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening, and similar actions. It would repeal any federal statute, regulation, or Executive order that authorizes weather modification. It would also bar federal agencies and any recipient of federal funds from authorizing or doing research or testing that counts as weather modification. These changes would take effect 90 days after enactment.
Higher penalties for weather modification
This bill would create civil and criminal penalties for violating the weather modification ban. The EPA, with FAA coordination, could levy civil fines up to $10,000 for each violation. Criminal penalties would include fines up to $100,000 per violation and up to 5 years in prison, or both. Each injection, release, emission, or dispersal would count as a separate violation, and officers or agents who knowingly authorize violations would also be liable. Penalties would take effect 90 days after enactment.
Public reporting and EPA investigations
This bill would require the FAA to set up a system for air carriers to report aircraft location and movement of planes that may support weather modification. It would require the EPA, with FAA and NOAA, to set up a public system for people to report suspected violations and to post reports online. The EPA would investigate reports it finds worth further review, coordinate with other agencies to verify activities, and refer confirmed violations to the Attorney General. These reporting and investigative duties would start 90 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]
CO • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov