Bill > HB1271

This bill establishes new regulations and penalties concerning weather and climate modification activities in South Dakota. It creates a "weather and climate modification monitoring fund" managed by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which will be funded by civil penalties collected from violations. The bill explicitly prohibits individuals from releasing specific substances like aluminum, barium, chaff containing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), strontium, or sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere with the intent to alter weather or sunlight. Violators face a minimum civil penalty of $100,000, plus an additional $10,000 for each day the violation continues. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is tasked with creating an online form for reporting suspected violations and will develop rules for investigating these reports and monitoring compliance. Additionally, public and private airports will be required to report quarterly to the Department of Transportation about any aircraft equipped for dispersing substances into the atmosphere, with exceptions for agricultural spraying equipment. These airport reports will be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for potential violation referrals. The bill also mandates that grant agreements with public airports will include these reporting requirements starting in July 2026, and the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission will develop the necessary reporting forms and procedures. Finally, any business operating outside the state but intending to modify weather within South Dakota must provide the Secretary of State with a list of the substances they plan to disperse.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27286