The bill addresses geoengineering and weather modification activities in Florida by repealing existing statutes related to the licensing and regulation of these activities, specifically sections 403.281 through 403.401. It amends section 403.411 to prohibit the injection or release of substances into the atmosphere for altering temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity, while also increasing civil penalties for violations and mandating that collected fines be deposited into the Air Pollution Control Trust Fund. Additionally, the bill introduces section 403.4115, which requires operators of public infrastructure to report information about aircraft involved in geoengineering and establishes a reporting mechanism for the public to report such activities, directing the Department of Environmental Protection to investigate these reports.

Furthermore, the bill amends Florida Statutes Section 373.470 concerning Everglades restoration, requiring the distribution of funds from the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund to align with legislative appropriations and a new provision that aligns the distribution process with Section 373.026(7)(b). It also mandates that the funds distributed to the district must be matched by cumulative contributions from the district by the fiscal year 2019-2020, allowing for various forms of contributions, including in-kind project design and construction work. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 56 Filed: 403.411, 252.44, 253.002, 373.026, 373.4598, 373.470
S 56 c1: 403.411, 253.002, 373.026, 373.4598, 373.470
S 56 c2: 403.411, 253.002, 373.026, 373.4598
S 56 er: 403.411, 253.002, 373.026, 373.4598