‘Chemtrail’ crackdown: Florida law has PBIA seeking evidence of weather conspiracy
- Florida now requires airports to report sightings of “weather modification” aircraft, a law stemming from the “chemtrail” conspiracy theory.
- A Democratic state senator who voted against the bill called it a waste of time and taxpayer money for a nonexistent problem.
- The Republican lawmaker who sponsored the bill has previously promoted the conspiracy theory on social media.
The legend of “chemtrails” is as old as the internet and as stark as the white, cloudy streaks jets leave behind in the sky.
The idea, a favorite on social media but debunked by multiple studies, posits that climate scientists and government agencies deliberately pump chemicals into the atmosphere to bring off schemes such as controlling the weather, causing natural disasters and even poisoning people. These streaks, advocates say, are evidence of it.
Despite the findings of scientists in and out of government, Florida lawmakers last year took the idea of chemtrails seriously enough to enact a law banning the injection, release or dispersion of any substance into the atmosphere that would affect weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity.
The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, took effect on July 1 and began requiring Florida airports on Oct. 1 to report sightings of so-called aircraft with weather modification or geoengineering equipment aboard. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes it, geoengineering is the intentional attempt to cool the Earth or remove certain gases from the atmosphere.
On Oct. 8, Palm Beach International Airport joined Daytona Beach International Airport in saying their facilities were closed to geoengineering and weather modification aircraft without prior permission of at least 24 hours at PBI and 48 hours at Daytona.
About a month later, however, PBIA has received no reports of such sightings, prompting one area state lawmaker to call the rule a waste of time and and whatever is spent on documenting it a waste of money.
“Although we have received a few general inquiries about the new state law, we have not received any reports of aircraft that would be subject to the reporting requirements,” Palm Beach International Airport spokesperson Rebeca Krogman said Oct. 17.
That does not surprise state Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat representing parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties. She voted against the bill, as did most Democrats in the Republican-dominated state Legislature.
“I felt that this was a bill that was solution for a problem that did not exist,” Polsky said. “I think it’s a waste of taxpayer money and it’s a waste of resources to report on something that’s nonexistent.”
How ‘chemtrails’ became a social-media hot topic
In reality, those streaks that appear in the wakes of jet planes are called contrails, not chemtrails. They form when hot, humid air from jet engines condense into ice crystals in the cold air thousands of feet off the ground. Condensation is how regular clouds form, too.
The idea of chemtrails first surfaced in a 1996 Air Force report looking at weather scenarios. Its authors stressed that their work contained “fictional representations of future situations/scenarios,” but it fed rumors about the powers of scientists and government agencies.
The Air Force later stressed the paper did not reflect any plans or abilities to modify the weather, but its statement did little to stop people from speculating on social media about what might happen. And so in state Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, put forth the bill that became law.
“The purpose of this bill is to separate fact from fiction,” said Garcia, whose district extends from Miami Beach west past Miami and nearly to Florida’s Turnpike. She stressed that the bill was intended to look into the theories in response to numerous requests from constituents and potentially disprove them.
Garcia has shared posts on social media suggesting the legend of chemtrails might be true. One she shared on X on Dec. 1, 2024, said: “Imagine still thinking it’s just a conspiracy at this point in time now — go outside — look up & you can see it for yourself.”
No plan to repeal ‘chemtrail’ law
Polsky said she thinks some people may genuinely believe chemtrails are real and a threat, but that others “feel their base believes it, so they’re going along with it to continue to get their support.”
Still, Polsky said she will not lead any effort to repeal the law in 2026 when legislators meet again to craft state laws.
“I’ve got much more important issues — like affordability, property insurance, affordable housing and being able to afford child care — in our state than to repeal a bill that never should have passed and really has very little impact,” said Polsky, who like Garcia will stand for reelection in November 2026.
“I can’t waste my time worrying about this ridiculous law when we have real issues affecting Floridians.”
Chris Persaud covers transportation in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post.
