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SB 1278

solar radiation management; prohibition; enforcement.

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Dave Farnsworth

Arizona prohibits unauthorized solar radiation management activities, establishing state enforcement authority over geoengineering technology deployment within its borders.

PASSED
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Bill Summary · SB 1278

Legislative bill overview

SB 1278 prohibits solar radiation management (SRM) activities in Arizona without explicit state authorization. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms and penalties for unauthorized deployment of technologies designed to reflect sunlight and reduce solar radiation reaching Earth's surface.

Why is this important

Solar radiation management represents an emerging geoengineering approach to climate modification with significant unknown environmental and atmospheric consequences. This bill addresses concerns about unilateral environmental intervention by individuals or entities within state borders, establishing Arizona as a jurisdiction with explicit regulatory control over such activities.

Potential points of contention

  • Scientific uncertainty: SRM technologies remain largely experimental with unclear environmental impacts, making it difficult to determine what should be prohibited versus permitted
  • Enforcement challenges: Detecting unauthorized SRM deployment (especially atmospheric interventions) presents practical monitoring and proof difficulties
  • Federal authority conflict: Unclear how state prohibition interacts with potential federal atmospheric regulation or interstate atmospheric effects from neighboring jurisdictions
  • Definition precision: The bill's scope depends on how "solar radiation management" is technically defined—overly broad definitions could capture legitimate agricultural or architectural practices

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

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