
Alex Kolodin in House Regulatory Oversight Committee hearing on January 28 (Photo: Arizona Legislature)
Kolodin Adds Teeth to Geo-Engineering Bill HB2056
Address concerns over broad language and enforcement measures
By Christy Kelly, February 4, 2025 8:24 am
As of January 28, 2025, Arizona House Bill 2056, introduced by Representative Lisa Fink (R-27), has advanced through the House Regulatory Oversight Committee with significant amendments from Rep. Alex Kolodin(R-3). The bill, which prohibits geoengineering practices in the state, is being refined to address concerns about its original broad language and stringent enforcement measures.
Deborah Boehm, representing the group Affidavit Mommas, spoke at the Regulatory Bill hearing in support of Kolodin’s amendments to HB 2056. However, she made one key recommendation: “I would like to see the fines” put back into the bill.
Kolodin agreed, stating, “We should make a floor amendment and add the fines.”
Boehm also told the Arizona Globe that she “would not have been able to support the original version of the bill” due to its overly broad language. However, she confirmed her support after Kolodin’s amendments refined the legislation’s scope and added the fines.
According to its website, Affidavit Mommas is a grassroots organization made up of “Moms and Grandmas” committed to educating individuals about the U.S. Constitution and empowering them to apply its principles in their daily lives. Their mission focuses on providing accessible resources to help people understand their constitutional rights and responsibilities.
The group strongly advocates civic engagement and legal literacy, encouraging members to be proactive in their communities. This includes utilizing sworn and notarized affidavits to participate in legislative processes and express their positions on key issues.
The Affidavit Mommas is a well-recognized force in Arizona politics. Group insiders told State 48 News that members initially brought the idea to Fink and have remained instrumental throughout HB2056’s development. Their support and Boehm’s push to clarify fines could play a pivotal role in shaping the bill’s final version.
Kolodin’s proposed amendments to HB 2056 to clarify its scope and enforcement include:
1. Clarification of Geoengineering Definition: The definition was refined to ensure that traditional energy sources and everyday appliances are not inadvertently included under the bill’s prohibitions.
2. Distinction Between Cloud Seeding and Solar Radiation Management (SRM): The amendments recognize that cloud seeding is a well-established practice distinct from the more experimental SRM, ensuring the legislation does not conflate the two.
3. Revised Enforcement Mechanisms: The original provisions, which classified geoengineering activities as a Class 4 felony with substantial fines and mandated rapid investigations by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, have been removed. The amended bill now prohibits state agencies and universities from funding airborne sun-blocking projects and allows citizens to file complaints about alleged geoengineering activities in court.
Various stakeholders, including Democratic lawmakers, a utility company, the Sierra Club, and a climate researcher from Cornell University, have opposed HB 2056. During the House Regulatory Oversight Committee hearing on January 28, Representatives Lupe Contreras (D-22) and Consuelo Hernandez (D-21) voted against the bill. Officials from SRP, a major utility company in Arizona, expressed concerns over the bill’s original language, particularly its ban on cloud seeding. SRP is actively researching cloud seeding as a method to enhance water resources.
Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club’s Arizona chapter, voiced apprehension about geoengineering, stating, “Haven’t we manipulated the climate enough?” She emphasized the irresponsibility of further manipulation without understanding potential unintended consequences.
Cornell University climate researcher Daniele Visioni criticized the bill’s broad language, suggesting it doesn’t account for the scale of activities. He noted that proposed bans like HB 2056 are “badly written” because they don’t differentiate between small-scale experiments and large-scale interventions.
The House Regulatory Oversight Committee unanimously approved the amended version of HB 2056 on January 28, 2025. The bill now proceeds to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.
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