The proposed bill would significantly amend current Arizona statutes by repealing existing prohibitions on weather control and cloud modifications, and instead establishing a clear prohibition against geoengineering, which includes activities like aerosol injection and cloud seeding. It would require the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to investigate credible reports of geoengineering and promote public reporting of such activities.

Furthermore, the bill would classify violations as a class 4 felony, imposing a civil penalty of $500,000 for each violation, with each day of geoengineering counted separately. It mandates that the Director issue formal notices and Cease-and-Desist Orders to violators, ensuring compliance with state law. Overall, the bill aims to enhance regulations and enforcement mechanisms against unauthorized geoengineering activities, while emphasizing the potential risks to health and the environment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-117, 49-119, 45-113, 45-115, 45-116, 45-183, 45-273, 45-292, 45-411.01, 45-467, 45-476.01, 45-595, 45-612, 45-703, 45-871.01, 45-874.01, 45-1021, 45-1041, 45-1205, 45-1603, 45-1605, 35-190, 35-313