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SB 1264

An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for consumer gas tax relief and for Commonwealth indebtedness.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Boscola and 1 co-sponsor

The bill would ban solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, and polluting atmospheric activity in Pennsylvania and assign enforcement to state police and county sheriffs, with

Referred to Transportation
0
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Bill Summary · SB 1264

Summary of Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1264 (2025-2026 Session)

Note: The bill text provided in the prompt appears to reflect the 2023-2024 regular session with the short title “Clean Air Preservation Act” and provisions related to prohibiting solar radiation modification, cloud seeding, and polluting atmospheric activity, along with duties and penalties. The action history shown (as of 2026-04-23) indicates a reference to “Referred to Transportation” and earlier committee referral to Agriculture and Rural Affairs. This summary presents the substantive content as described in the bill’s title and related memo, and notes the available procedural status.

1) Main purpose and intent

  • The bill is titled and framed as an environmental regulation known as the Clean Air Preservation Act.
  • Core aim: prohibit specific atmospheric activities within the Commonwealth, including:
    • Solar radiation modification
    • Cloud seeding
    • Polluting atmospheric activity (as defined by the bill)
  • The measure assigns duties to state law enforcement (Pennsylvania State Police) and county sheriffs to enforce these prohibitions.
  • The bill imposes penalties for violations.

2) Key provisions and changes

  • Prohibitions:
    • Prohibits solar radiation modification within Pennsylvania.
    • Prohibits cloud seeding operations within Pennsylvania.
    • Prohibits “polluting atmospheric activity” (the bill would define this term; details are not provided in the summary but would typically encompass activities causing atmospheric contamination or alteration).
  • Enforcement duties:
    • Requires or authorizes the Pennsylvania State Police to enforce the prohibitions.
    • Imposes enforcement duties on sheriffs (presumably of counties) to ensure compliance within their jurisdictions.
  • Penalties:
    • Establishes penalties for violations of the prohibitions. (Exact penalty levels, fines, or punishment are not specified in the provided text.)
  • Scope and definitions:
    • The bill would include definitions for terms such as “solar radiation modification,” “cloud seeding,” and “polluting atmospheric activity,” as well as any relevant exceptions and exemptions.
  • Administrative structure:
    • Likely includes provisions on enforcement procedures, reporting, and possibly cooperation with federal or local agencies. (Specifics are not given in the excerpt.)

3) Who or what would be affected

  • Geographic scope: Pennsylvania Commonwealth.
  • Actors:
    • Individuals and organizations conducting atmospheric activities (e.g., researchers, private entities, or governmental programs) would be restricted if those activities involve solar radiation modification or cloud seeding, or are deemed polluting atmospheric activity.
    • Law enforcement agencies:
    • Pennsylvania State Police would have enforcement duties under this act.
    • County sheriffs would have duties to enforce the prohibitions within their counties.
  • Potential impact on:
    • Research activities involving weather modification or atmospheric experiments.
    • Agricultural or environmental projects that historically used cloud seeding (subject to interpretation of the prohibitions and any permitted activities).
    • Industries or individuals seeking to engage in meteorological or geoengineering-related activities within the state.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative status:
    • The bill was referred to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on June 20, 2024 in the 2023-2024 session.
    • As of the provided update, action history also shows a later reference to Transportation (dated 2026-04-23), indicating continued discussion or reintroduction/transfer between committees.
  • Next steps (typical for a bill with this status):
    • Committee consideration and potential amendments.
    • Floor debate and votes in the Senate.
    • If advanced, potential passage to the House for consideration, and then potential reconciliation if different versions exist.
    • Final passage and gubernatorial action (signature or veto) to become law.
  • Notable timing details:
    • Specific effective dates, transition periods, or enforcement timelines are not provided in the excerpt. Final bill text would specify when prohibitions take effect and whether there are phased or sunset provisions.

5) Observations and considerations

  • The bill addresses environmental protection and atmospheric quality by policing certain geoengineering-like activities.
  • The broad terms “solar radiation modification,” “cloud seeding,” and “polluting atmospheric activity” may raise questions about scientific research, permitted activities, and regulatory definitions. The exact definitions and permissible exemptions (if any) would be critical for understanding real-world impact.
  • Enforcement roles designated to state and local law enforcement suggest potential penalties and compliance burdens for researchers, institutions, and private entities engaging in atmospheric activities.

If you’d like, I can refine this summary once the final bill text is available, including precise definitions, penalties, exemptions, and effective dates.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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