Bill > HB2656

This bill, known as the "Clean Skies Act," prohibits activities such as geoengineering (large-scale manipulation of the environment, including releasing agents like aerosols, chemicals, or using solar radiation modification), cloud seeding (releasing chemicals to alter precipitation), and other forms of weather modification in Missouri. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is authorized to investigate suspected violations, with specific reporting requirements for airport employees or aircraft owners. Penalties for violations range from a class B misdemeanor for filing a false report to a class A misdemeanor for a first offense of prohibited activities, escalating to a class E felony for subsequent offenses, and a class C felony if serious physical injury or death results. Individuals harmed by violations can pursue civil action for damages and other relief. The act includes exceptions for certain farming and ranching operations and does not apply to contrails from aircraft. Failure by an aircraft owner or airport employee to report known aircraft equipped for these prohibited activities is a class B misdemeanor. The DNR is tasked with creating rules and regulations to administer the act.