Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
HB1112 sponsored by Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston-District 32) which would make geoengineering and weather modification a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee has passed the House Agricultural & Natural Resources Subcommittee.
The bill would allow the state Attorney General, along with local district attorneys, to investigate violations of the law. If a report is found to be credible, offending parties would face a fine of $100,000 per violation. Anyone found supplying or “otherwise providing” chemicals or substances for purposes of weather modification would likewise be subject to the same penalty.
This legislation seeks to expand on Fritts’ bill from last year that made weather modification a prohibited action but did not contain any enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.
During the subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, Rep. Fritts relayed his bill is modeled after a similar bill in the state of Florida and told members that though he does acknowledge the need for further scientific studies, this bill does not carry a fiscal note, meaning it will not cost the state extra money at this time.
Through the course of discussion and fielding questions he also reassured the committee that this legislation will not impact crop dusters in their livelihoods or those working on fire mitigation and prevention.
The vote was 8-1 in favor of referring the bill to the full House Agricultural & Natural Resources Committee, which will hear it Tuesday, 3/11.
Members voting “Yes” were Alexander, Fritts, Grills, Martin G, Shaw (Democrat), Stinnett, Todd, and Vital. The only “No” vote on the bill came from Democrat Justin Jones.
If you would like to contact members of the House Agricultural & Natural Resources Committee, please use the information below:
HB112 Summary: As introduced, designates the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight, or supplying or otherwise providing the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus required for the conduct, as a Class A misdemeanor; makes other changes related to investigations and enforcement related to weather modification.
Rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov, rep.aftyn.behn@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.monty.fritts@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.justin.jones@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
