OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 529 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 529’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Rep. T. Young
Effective date:
Reid J. Fleeson, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Prohibits any person from engaging in solar radiation modification (SRM) in Ohio,
including through the use of an aircraft, balloon, space-based platform, or interoperable
ground-based facility.
 Defines SRM as an experiment in the Earth’s climatic system involving the release of
pollutants that reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface.
 Requires the Director of Environmental Protection to adopt policies and procedures
regarding public monitoring and reporting of SRM, to investigate reports of SRM, and to
issue cease-and-desist orders to persons determined to be conducting or attempting to
conduct SRM.
 Establishes a strict liability offense for engaging in SRM or violating the Director’s cease-
and-desist order regarding SRM, and imposes a fine of not less than $500,000,
imprisonment of not less than three years, or both, for each violation.
 Titles the bill as “the Atmosphere Protection Act.”
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Prohibiting solar radiation modification
The bill prohibits any person from engaging in solar radiation modification (SRM) in
Ohio, including through the use of an aircraft, balloon, space-based platform, or interoperable
ground-based facility.
“Solar radiation modification” is defined by the bill as an experiment in the Earth’s
climatic system involving the release of pollutants that reduces the amount of sunlight reaching
the Earth’s surface. “Pollutant” is defined as any aerosol; biologic, transbiologic, or genetically
modified agent; chaff; metal; radioactive material; acid; alkali; chemical; particulate;
contaminant; smart dust; smoke; soot; fume; vapor; air pollutant regulated by Ohio;
May 23, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
mechanical vibration or other physical agent; waste, including materials that may be recycled,
reconditioned, or reclaimed; solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal irritant; or artificially produced
electric field, magnetic field, electromagnetic field, electromagnetic pulse, sound wave, sound
solution, light pollution, microwave, or ionizing or nonionizing radiation.1
OEPA duties
Under the bill, The Director of Environmental Protection is required to do all of the
following regarding SRM:
 Adopt policies encouraging the public to monitor, measure, document, and report
present, potential, and past incidents that may constitute SRM;
 Adopt policies and procedures to aid the public in reporting and presenting evidence of
SRM or attempted SRM;
 Investigate any report of SRM or attempted SRM;
 Issue a cease-and-desist order to a person who the Director determines is conducting or
attempting to conduct SRM.2
Penalties
A person who violates the prohibition against SRM or fails to comply with the Director’s
cease-and-desist order regarding SRM is to be fined not less than $500,000, imprisoned not less
than three years, or both, for each violation. Each day of violation constitutes a separate
offense. A violation of the bill’s prohibition against SRM or failure to comply with a cease-and-
desist order is a strict liability offense for which no degree of culpability is required.3
Bill title
The bill is titled “the Atmosphere Protection Act.”4
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 05-15-24
ANHB0529IN-135/ar
1 R.C. 3704.21 and 3704.22.
2 R.C. 3704.23.
3 R.C. 3704.22, 3704.23(D), and 3704.99(H); R.C. 2901.21, not in the bill.
4 Section 3.
P a g e |2 H.B. 529
As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3704.99