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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a prohibition on weather modification and control; |
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creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 9, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 303 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 303. WEATHER MODIFICATION AND CONTROL PROHIBITED |
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Sec. 303.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "weather |
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modification and control" means the injection, release, or |
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dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, chemical compound, |
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substance, or apparatus for the purpose of affecting temperature, |
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weather, or the intensity of sunlight. |
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Sec. 303.002. PROHIBITION ON WEATHER MODIFICATION AND |
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CONTROL. A person may not engage in weather modification and |
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control. |
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Sec. 303.003. ENFORCEMENT. (a) A person commits an offense |
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if the person violates this chapter. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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(c) A person commits a separate offense for each day the |
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violation occurs. |
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SECTION 2. Chapters 301 and 302, Agriculture Code, are |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of |
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this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of |
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this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 4. (a) An action, including a disciplinary or |
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administrative proceeding, pending under Chapter 301, Agriculture |
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Code, or Chapter 51, Occupations Code, on the effective date of this |
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Act related to a violation of Chapter 301, Agriculture Code, as that |
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chapter existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, |
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is dismissed. |
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(b) An administrative penalty assessed by the Texas |
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Commission of Licensing and Regulation before the effective date of |
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this Act related to a violation of Chapter 301, Agriculture Code, as |
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that chapter existed immediately before the effective date of this |
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Act, may be collected as provided by Chapter 51, Occupations Code. |
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(c) The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall |
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return to a person who holds a valid license or permit issued under |
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Chapter 301, Agriculture Code, as that chapter existed immediately |
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before the effective date of this Act, a prorated portion of the fee |
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paid to the department for the issuance or renewal of the license or |
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permit. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |