Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB449

Introduced
2/2/26  

Caption

Enacting the clean air preservation act to prohibit solar radiation modification, geoengineering, weather modification, cloud seeding and other polluting atmospheric experiments or interventions and creating a crime for violation thereof.

Impact

If enacted, SB449 would substantially amend state laws related to environmental protection by restricting practices that could affect the atmosphere and climate. By prohibiting such interventions, the bill aims to uphold air quality and reduce risks associated with unintended consequences of weather modification technologies. The bill highlights a proactive approach to safeguarding the environment and repositioning state policies to prioritize ecological preservation while also potentially affecting industries involved in atmospheric research and modification.

Summary

SB449, known as the Clean Air Preservation Act, aims to prohibit practices such as solar radiation modification, geoengineering, weather modification, cloud seeding, and other atmospheric interventions that could pollute the atmosphere. The bill proposes that these activities pose significant risks to environmental integrity and public health, warranting strict regulation. By instituting criminal penalties for violations, the bill seeks to ensure compliance and deter malicious actions that could lead to environmental degradation. This legislative measure highlights growing concerns over the impact of geoengineering and related technologies on ecosystems and climates.

Contention

Discussions surrounding SB449 are likely to divide opinions among legislators and stakeholders. Supporters of the bill may argue that it represents a necessary safeguard against the unpredictable and potentially harmful effects of geoengineering practices. Conversely, opponents, including certain industry representatives and researchers, may contend that the prohibition could hinder scientific advancement, research opportunities, and technological innovations in environmental management. Balancing these perspectives will be pivotal as the legislative process unfolds, requiring scrutiny of both environmental protection and scientific exploration.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

KS SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.