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Tuesday, November 3, 2026

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Utah bill tracker

S.B. 23: Airborne Chemicals Amendments

2026 General Session · Originating chamber: Senate

Saved official records and Ledger coverage. The outcome below is from the Legislature’s own step list.

What the bill does

Did not pass both chambers; the bill was filed on March 6, 2026.

This bill addresses the release of chemicals from aircraft.

  • Defines terms
  • Establishes that the release of a chemical or substance from an aircraft for the purpose of solar geoengineering is a third-degree felony
  • Provides a means for a person to submit information regarding suspected solar geoengineering
  • Requires the Department of Transportation to report credible instances of suspected solar geoengineering to the Office of the Attorney General
  • Requires an airport operator to report suspected solar geoengineering activity to the Department of Transportation
  • Makes technical and conforming changes

The description and list come from the bill's own long title as recorded by the Legislature. Read the official bill. The Ledger takes no position on it.

Subjects: Air Quality · Environment · Aeronautics · Airports · Transportation

How it moved

  1. · Senate1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
  2. · Senateto standing committeeGovernment Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee
  3. · SenateSenate Comm - Amendment RecommendationGovernment Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee
  4. · SenateSenate Comm - Motion to Recommend FailedGovernment Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee
  5. · SenateSenate Comm - Recommends Returned to RulesGovernment Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee
  6. · Senatefiledfile for bills not passed

Steps as the Legislature recorded them; clerical and fiscal-staff entries are left out. Numbers such as 54-14-7 are yeas, nays and absent.

Fiscal note

From the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's note on S.B. 23, dated January 5, 2026. A fiscal note estimates direct costs and revenue; it is not an appropriation.

  • State revenue: To the extent that more people are convicted as a result of this legislation and pay their financial obligation, this could increase state revenue per case in the following amounts: (1) General Fund $1,450; (2) Court Security $53.
  • State expenditures: Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Transportation $20,000 ongoing from the Aeronautics Restricted Account beginning in FY 2027 to hire a temporary position to collect and process reports of solar geoengineering activity. To the extent that a case is filed in district court as a result of the charges in this legislation, it could cost the Courts $790 per case from the General Fund.
  • Local government: Local government entities could experience the following estimated expenditures: 1. Prosecutors - $1,392 per case; 2. Public Defense - $3,420 per case.
  • Individuals and businesses: To the extent that individuals violate provisions of this legislation, this could cost certain offenders about $1,500 per case, however the total amount is unknown.

Bill overview

Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton

Legislature passed-list status: Not available in the saved metadata.

Passed-list membership is not a finding that a bill was signed or took effect. A bill absent from that list is not necessarily pending or defeated.

Latest recorded action

filed
Action date:

The full step list is above. Find the bill in the official session list for status, hearings and committee records.

Recorded floor votes

No floor-vote records for this bill and session are available here. This does not mean no vote occurred; consult the official bill record.

Ledger coverage

No Ledger stories with an explicit source link to this bill and session are listed here.