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 the state will see a vote on the full House floor.
The bill would allow the state Attorney General and local district attorneys to investigate violations of the already existing law banning geoengineering, and if a report is found credible, to fine the offending parties $100,000 per violation. The same would apply to anyone found supplying or providing chemicals or substances for the purposes of weather modification.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, members spent roughly 45 minutes discussing and debating Fritts’ bill.
Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2) spoke in support of the bill, stating his appreciation for Rep. Fritts’ willingness to bring this legislation after fighting to pass last year’s bill making geoengineering illegal.
He said Fritts, “took a beating, and we all took a lot of mockery. And since that time there’s been several other states that have started down the same road because they see the same issue, and I just want to tell you I appreciate it.”
Fritts relayed that there has been contact from the states of Florida, Idaho, Iowa, South Carolina, and others, several of whom have used the language from last year’s Clean Air Act to help develop legislation for their own states.
Alli Williamson, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Legislative Director, testified that the legislation would introduce, “some significant practical challenges for the department. The requirements of this bill would be considered a new program for our division requiring new staff to administer. Currently the division is already operating with limited resources both in personnel and budget to monitor air quality concerns such as industrial emissions and other established air pollutants. The responsibility of adding another requirement to investigate claims of geoengineering would significantly stretch these resources.”
She also claimed the department would struggle with the “absence of comparability”, stating there is not enough scientific baseline or historical precedent for collected samples to properly respond to majority of the complaints about chemtrails or weather modification.
Rep. Fritts rebutted by citing existing law that requires the state government to make studies of emergency mitigation related matters of potential environmental hazards, including weather modification, which TDEC admitted were not being conducted.
He also reiterated that much of the burden of investigation and prosecution would fall on the Attorney General and local district attorneys, not TDEC.
The vote was ultimately 11-3 along party lines in favor of recommendation for passage, with all three “No” votes coming from Democrats Aftyn Behn, Justin Jones, and Johnny Shaw. Representatives voting “Yes” were Alexander, Fritts, Grills, Hulsey, Hurt, Martin G, Reedy, Stinnett, Todd, Travis, and Vital.
HB1112 has been referred to the House Calendar & Rules Committee for a date before the full House body, but its Senate companion, SB1033, sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) still awaits a date before the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee.
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.
