New Hampshire HB 1618: prohibiting solar radiation modification, weather modification, and other polluting atmospheric interventions.

Bill Text

HB 1618-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2644

 08/06

HOUSE BILL 1618-FN

AN ACT prohibiting solar radiation modification, weather modification, and other polluting atmospheric interventions.

SPONSORS: Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Mattson, Ches. 18; Rep. Drew, Hills. 19; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. DeVito, Rock. 8; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40; Rep. Reinfurt, Hills. 29; Rep. Mehegan, Merr. 12

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes a regulatory process to prohibit solar radiation modification (SRM), geoengineering, or other atmospheric interventions involving the release of pollutants within the state, providing penalties for violations. This bill requires reports of such violations to be made to the New Hampshire county sheriffs or deputized New Hampshire citizens to enforce the provisions.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2644

 08/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT prohibiting solar radiation modification, weather modification, and other polluting atmospheric interventions.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Short Title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Clean Air Preservation Act." 

 2 Purpose. 

 I. Currently, RSA 12-F:1 provides that any department or agency of the state may engage in and undertake experimentation in the techniques and methods for weather modification, and may cooperate therein with the federal government, with authorized agencies of other states, and with interested persons and organizations. Weather modification experimentation is known to involve the use of chemical compounds and technologies. 

 II. New Hampshire RSA 125 states that it is necessary to aggressively reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and other criteria pollutants due to adverse impacts on human health and the ecosystem. The department of environmental services acknowledges adverse health and environmental effects of SO2 including harm to the human respiratory system and that elevated concentrations of SO2 in the atmosphere can react with other compounds to form small particles that contribute to particulate matter pollution, reduce visibility and cause regional haze. SO2 can harm bees and other pollinators, animals, and aquatic life. SO2 harms trees and forests, damages foliage and decreases plant growth by causing acid rain. Acid rain decreases soil quality and reduces the yield from agriculture, farming, and gardening. 

 III. Attempts to alter atmospheric conditions through weather modification, solar radiation modification (SRM) and other weather manipulation methods involve the release of pollutants into the atmosphere. These pollutants fall to earth in precipitation causing harm to human health and damaging New Hampshire's natural resources. The Congressionally Mandated Research Plan and an Initial Research Governance Framework Related to Solar Radiation Modification outlines the coordination of federally funded research into Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). Scientific dimensions of SRM include the use of interoperable ground-based, airborne, and space-based facilities. Per the Center for International Environmental Law, "Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) technologies are dangerous and do not have any role to play in our common future." It is therefore the intention of the general court to prohibit SRM as further set forth by the terms and provisions of this act. 

 IV. The general court finds it necessary to prohibit SRM, weather modification experimentation and other polluting weather interventions or experiments in New Hampshire under the following provisions of the New Hampshire constitution: 

 (a) Part 1, article 1. Equality of men; origin and object of government.

 (b) Part 1, article 2. Natural rights. 

 (c) Part 1, article 7. State sovereignty.

 3 Atmospheric Experiments and Interventions. RSA 12-F is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 

CHAPTER 12-F

ATMOSPHERIC EXPERIMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS

 12-F:1 Definitions. In this chapter: 

 I. "Air national guard" means the New Hampshire air national guard (NH ANG), a reserve component of the United States Air Force. As state militia units, the units in the NH ANG are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the governor of New Hampshire through the office of the state adjutant general unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. In the event that NH ANG is