Governor Ron DeSantis today announced his support for two recently passed Florida Legislature bills aimed at restricting certain chemical exposures and atmospheric manipulation within the state. Speaking in Miami, the Governor highlighted Senate Bill 700 and Senate Bill 56 as key measures to protect Floridians.
“Today I was in Miami to support SB 700, which bans local governments from unilaterally adding fluoride to public drinking water,” said Governor DeSantis. The provision, included within the broader Florida Farm Bill (SB 700), prevents local authorities from making independent decisions to add fluoride to public water supplies. This legislative move follows a November 2024 advisory from Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, which raised cautions about community water fluoridation due to potential health risks, particularly concerning pregnant women and children.
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Governor DeSantis also addressed the issue of atmospheric intervention, stating, “In addition to this, I also reiterated in Miami that Florida is not a testing ground for geoengineering. We already do not permit this activity, and I will be signing SB 56 to prohibit the practice in our skies.”
Senate Bill 56 explicitly repeals the state’s authority to issue permits for geoengineering and weather modification activities. Furthermore, it establishes a clear prohibition on the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere with the express intent of altering weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity. Violators of this new law could face severe penalties, including third-degree felony charges, up to five years in prison, and fines reaching $100,000.
The bill also outlines significant enforcement mechanisms. Beginning October 1, 2025, all publicly owned airports in Florida will be required to report the presence of any aircraft equipped with weather modification or geoengineering equipment to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Additionally, the Department of Environmental Protection is slated to launch a public reporting portal this summer to allow citizens to identify and report suspected violations.
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DeSantis framed his support for the bills within his vision for the state, stating, “The Free State of Florida means freedom from governments or private actors unilaterally applying chemicals or geoengineering to people or public spaces.”
According to the Governor’s office, these legislative measures underscore Florida’s commitment to safeguarding public health, upholding individual autonomy, and ensuring that neither governmental entities nor private corporations can unilaterally impose environmental or chemical risks upon the public.
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