Bill Enacting Consequences For Weather Modification, Geoengineering In Tennessee Passes On House Floor

Image Credit: Adelia Kircher / The Tennessee Conservative

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

A bill to make geoengineering and weather modification a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee passed on the House floor by a 69-21 vote on Monday afternoon.

House Bill 1112 (HB1112), sponsored by Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston-District 32), would allow the attorney general and local district attorneys to investigate violations of an already existing law banning geoengineering.

If a report of a violation is found credible HB1112 allows offending parties to be fined $100,000 per violation. The same would apply to anyone found supplying or providing chemicals or substances for the purposes of weather modification.

“Currently, Tennessee leads the nation in what we’re doing to fight against the geoengineering, weather modification,” Rep. Fritts stated on the House floor. “As many as 25 states now follow us in this attempt. Those states include Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Arizona, New Jersey, Wyoming, and a number of others. Most recently, I think Michigan.”

“I think this is the right thing to do. We get much interest in this from our constituents. I know we all do,” Rep. Fritts continued. “It’s the right thing to assert that we have not constitutionally agreed to have our weather polluted for the sole purpose of modifying the weather, and we’re concerned about the health effects of such.”

Rep. Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville-District 50) noted that he thought they were considering this bill too early as April Fools’ Day is still a week away. 

“Just because we don’t understand the technical aspects of this, shouldn’t make us just snarky,” Rep. Fritts responded. “This is an important topic to many Tennesseans. It’s an important topic to many folks across the United States.” 

Republican Representatives Alexander, Atchley, Barrett, Baum, Boyd, Bricken, Bulso, Burkhart, Butler, Capley, Carringer, Cepicky, Cochran, Darby, Davis, Doggett, Eldridge, Faison, Farmer, Fritts, Gant, Garrett, Grills, Hale, Haston, Hawk, Helton-Haynes, Hicks G, Hicks T, Hill, Hulsey, Hurt, Jones R, Keisling, Kumar, Lafferty, Lamberth, Leatherwood, Lynn, Maberry, Marsh, Martin B, Martin G, McCalmon, Moody, Moon, Powers, Reedy, Reeves, Reneau, Rudd, Rudder, Russell, Scarbrough, Sherrell, Slater, Sparks, Stevens, Stinnett, Terry, Todd, Travis, Vaughan, Vital, Warner, White, Williams, Wright, and Zachary voted in favor of HB1112.

Democrat Representatives Behn, Brooks, Chism, Clemmons, Dixie, Freeman, Glynn, Hakeem, Hardaway, Harris, Hemmer, Johnson, Jones J, Love, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Parkinson, Powell, Salinas, and Shaw voted against it.

Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) was present but did not vote yes or no on HB1112.

For more information about geoengineering, read this op-ed on the issue by Rep. Fritts.

Tennessee Rep. Monty Fritts Shares His Perspective On Geoengineering & Why He Is Sponsoring Additional Legislation On The Topic

The corresponding Senate Bill 1033 (SB1033), sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), has been placed on the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee calendar for March 26^th, 2025. 

SB1033 Summary: As introduced, designates the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight, or supplying or otherwise providing the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus required for the conduct, as a Class A misdemeanor; makes other changes related to investigations and enforcement related to weather modification. – Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201.

Sen.shane.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jessie.seal@capitol.tn.gov, sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov, sen.heidi.campbell@capitol.tn.gov, sen.bobby.harshbarger@capitol.tn.gov, sen.charlane.oliver@capitol.tn.gov, sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov, sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.