A new bill filed by State Sen. Eddie D. Settle in the North Carolina Senate seeks to ban atmospheric modifications that impact temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 485 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Prohibit Geoengineering.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill prohibits the intentional release of polluting emissions, including stratospheric aerosol injection, cloud seeding, and electromagnetic radio frequency emissions, into the atmosphere to alter temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity. The legislation defines “atmospheric modification” to encompass such activities, excluding licensed pesticide applications by aircraft. It requires the Environmental Management Commission to adopt necessary rules for implementation. The bill is effective upon becoming law, aiming to address concerns over the environmental, health, and economic impacts of atmospheric modification.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Timothy D. Moffitt proposed the most bills (70) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Settle graduated from Wilkes Community College in 1979 with an AA.
Settle, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 36th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Paul Newton.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie D. Settle, Ralph Hise, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 485 | 03/25/2025 | Prohibit Geoengineering. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Benton G. Sawrey, and David W. Craven, Jr. | SB 481 | 03/25/2025 | Definitions for Advanced Recycling. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Michael V. Lee, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 579 | 03/25/2025 | Transforming the High School Experience. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Sophia Chitlik, and Todd Johnson | SB 657 | 03/25/2025 | Keeping Our Coaches Act. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Benton G. Sawrey, and Paul A. Lowe, Jr. | SB 317 | 03/17/2025 | Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 268 | 03/12/2025 | Amend NC PEO Act.-AB |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 269 | 03/12/2025 | Insurance Guaranty Association Act Revisions.-AB |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 270 | 03/12/2025 | Credit Property Insurance Restrictions.-AB |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 271 | 03/12/2025 | Permitted Trade Practices/Insurance Rebates.-AB |
| Eddie D. Settle | SB 264 | 03/11/2025 | Flags at Every School. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Tom McInnis, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 231 | 03/05/2025 | State Surplus Property/Third-Party Auctions. |
| Eddie D. Settle, David W. Craven, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 240 | 03/05/2025 | Establish NCSTARS Grant Program. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Timothy D. Moffitt, and W. Ted Alexander | SB 164 | 02/25/2025 | Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Carl Ford, and W. Ted Alexander | SB 123 | 02/21/2025 | Flags at Every School. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Michael A. Lazzara, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 113 | 02/17/2025 | Removal of Squatters from Private Property. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Michael A. Lazzara, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 71 | 02/11/2025 | Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Bobby Hanig, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 58 | 02/05/2025 | AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Warren Daniel | SB 50 | 02/04/2025 | Freedom to Carry NC. |
| Eddie D. Settle, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Todd Johnson | SB 51 | 02/04/2025 | Maintain NAIC Accreditation of DOI.-AB |
| Eddie D. Settle | SB 41 | 02/03/2025 | 36th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
