State Representative Lisa Fink speaking with attendees on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives on opening day of the 57th legislature in Phoenix, Arizona, Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
Geoengineering Bills Languish in Committee ‘Graveyard’
Senate and House bills prohibiting geoengineering failed to advance out of committees
By Christy Kelly, March 27, 2025 2:28 pm
Two legislative efforts to prohibit geoengineering practices in Arizona have failed to advance, as the Energy & Water Committee of the House Natural Resources declined to hear either bill.
Geoengineering is defined as the “deliberate large-scale manipulation of an environmental process that affects the earth’s climate,” including cloud seeding and SAI, or “stratospheric aerosol injection,” which involves spraying highly reflective sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect and thereby reduce sunlight. The debate over so-called “chemtrails,” the streaks of vapor seen in the Arizona skies, are caused by the atmospheric release of chemicals, with the more conspiracy-minded accusations including the use of “mind control” and “sterilization” chemicals. Others dismiss such claims altogether, identifying the visible lines simply as jet aircraft vapor trails.
Health and environmental concerns by grassroots organizations ultimately led to the creation of two bills, HB2056 and SB1432. House Bill 2056 (HB 2056), sponsored by Representative Lisa Fink (R-27), sought to ban various geoengineering activities, including cloud seeding and solar radiation management. Senate Bill 1432 (SB 1432), introduced by Senator David Farnsworth (R-LD10), refined the language of the house bill by clarifying what constitutes “releasing” and “dispensing” chemicals into the atmosphere. Despite SB 1432 passing the Arizona Senate, both bills were declined hearings by the same House committee chaired by Representative Gail Griffin (R-19), effectively halting their progress.
Fink expressed disappointment over the outcome but emphasized the need for increased public awareness on the issue. She stated, “More education is needed on the subject matter,” and confirmed her intention to reintroduce the bill in the next legislative session. Fink highlighted the growing national attention to geoengineering legislation, noting that 33 states currently have similar measures in development, characterizing it as an emerging movement.
The proposed bills also aimed to challenge federal authority over atmospheric interventions by asserting state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. Fink underscored the importance of community consent in environmental governance, advocating that the governed should reserve the right to consent to such activities.
As the close of the current legislative session approaches, supporters of the geoengineering bills are regrouping to strengthen their support and address the concerns that shelved the bills, expressing their intentions to revisit the legislation. On Tuesday, Jodi Brackett, the grassroots activist affiliated with Affidavit Mommas, gathered supporters for a strategy meeting at the Capitol. Brackett played a key role in introducing the idea and energizing the grassroots campaign for the ban.
Brackett told the Globe that she had been studying this issue but was initially unsuccessful in finding a legislator to sponsor a bill. “I am very grateful that Representative Fink agreed to sponsor it,” she said. “We owe her a heartfelt thank you.” Brackett mentioned that many constituents were rallying support for the geoengineering bills.
Both HB2056 and SB1432 were assigned to two committees in the House: regulatory and natural resources. Brackett said, “The grassroots called and emailed Speaker Montenegro and asked for the bills to be assigned to just one committee.” She continued, “Both bills passed Chairman Chaplik’s Regulatory Oversight.” Griffin refused to clarify why she did not calendar either bill, per Brackett.
The Globe asked Chairperson Griffin why she did not place hearings for the bills on the calendar, but has not yet received a response. The Globe also recently addressed concerns over the purpose of assigning bills to multiple committees.
(Read the Globe’s prior reporting on “geoengineering” here and here.)
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