Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the prohibition of geoengineering activities, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions
Topics:Environment & natural resourcesPublic safety & emergencies
Same legislation: SF 2208
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 13, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 4, 2026
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 2208
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 2208 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2208 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People who try to change the weather through activities like cloud seeding or atmospheric pollution could face serious criminal charges. If someone is caught doing this, they could go to prison for up to five years and pay large fines. The Department of Public Safety also has the power to order these individuals to stop their activities immediately.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to geoengineering by creating penalties and enforcement procedures for persons engaging in such practices. A person who engages in polluting atmospheric activity, cloud seeding, or weather engineering with the intent to manipulate or alter the weather commits a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025, but not more than $10,245. Each day the person violates this restriction is treated as a separate offense. Additionally, if these practices are suspected, the department of public safety (DPS) is authorized to issue the suspected person a cease and desist letter having the weight of a court order. The bill takes effect upon enactment.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 13, 2026. On January 26, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
2 written public comments to its subcommittee: January 26, 2026 (2) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill prohibits weather engineering activities like cloud seeding and makes violations a Class D felony. Because this creates a new offense, the fiscal impact on the state's enforcement, judicial, and correctional costs cannot be determined.3
From the note: Senate File 2208 creates new criminal offenses and places the enforcement responsibilities on the DPS. Any potential fiscal impact would depend on the number of investigations, cease-and- desist orders issued, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences resulting from the enactment of SF 2208.
- Weather Engineering, Prohibition · February 16, 2026
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
0 for · 2 against · 8 undecided · Who →
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91st General Assembly
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