Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Weather Modification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances repeal of unused weather-modification district statute
Summary
Senate Bill 1167, a cleanup measure to repeal an obsolete section of law related to weather-modification (cloud-seeding) districts, received a due-pass recommendation after brief testimony from the sponsor and public comment from an opponent of cloud-seeding.
Senate Bill 1167, introduced as a cleanup to remove an unused statutory authority for weather-modification districts, was sent to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.
Senator Tammy Nichols, presenting the bill, said the code provisions date from the 1970s and appear to have been used only by the Oneida district. “This is repealing a section, chapter 43 title 22 regarding weather modification districts,” Senator Nichols said, and she told the committee she had confirmed with the State Tax Commission that the provision is not currently used.
Sergei Brown of the Clear Skies Movement testified that his group opposes cloud seeding and asked the committee to pause legislative action while the group develops an initiative and gathers supporters. Brown told the committee his organization is preparing an initiative to stop cloud seeding and requested more time to consider existing bills and statutes; he acknowledged he had not intended his remarks as direct testimony against this specific repeal but framed it as part of a broader effort.
Senators and the sponsor clarified that SB 1167 is narrowly aimed at removing a taxing-district authority no longer in use and does not, on its face, authorize or prohibit current weather-modification activity. The committee approved sending the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation by voice vote.
The bill proceeds to the chamber floor for further consideration.
