In 2025, Louisiana banned geoengineering and so-called "chemtrails" with Senate Bill 46. Backers called it a win for public health and state rights, but it was a response to conspiracy theories.

The law primarily banned technologies not in use in Louisiana, but it also established a system for citizens to report possible violations. This seemingly minor step had unexpected results.

Rather than prevent a real threat, the law created a public record documenting the gap between beliefs and science. Here’s what happened next.

The Law Banned Technologies Not Used in Louisiana

Act 95, formerly Senate Bill 46, pursued two primary goals: banning solar geoengineering and eliminating an outdated, unused state licensing system for weather modification, also known as cloud seeding. Scientific experts and state regulators confirmed that Louisiana did not use either technology.

Atmospheric scientist Robert Rauber noted that abundant rainfall and unsuitable cloud types prevent the use of cloud seeding on the Gulf Coast, including in Louisiana.

By advancing the bill as a precaution against non-existent programs, lawmakers created an unusual situation: they legislated against a problem that scientists say does not exist in Louisiana.

It Created a Public Diary of a Conspiracy Theory

One of the most significant and most unexpected results of SB46 was the creation of a public reporting portal run by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). Since the law went into effect on August 1, 2025, the state has received more than 400 reports from people who claim to have witnessed illegal atmospheric spraying.

These reports offer insight into the beliefs behind the law. The submissions range from technical notes to accounts linking the trails to health concerns. For example, some described visual patterns, such as trails resembling 'tic-tac-toe' shapes or an 'Acura logo,' while others commented on visible steam from planes. Several complaints mention health problems and a sense of distress. In correspondence, one person questioned officials' intentions, another referenced weather modification, and another expressed discomfort and concern about aerial activity.

The system's openness is its most surprising feature. By publishing unedited reports that include the names and addresses of those filing them, the state has inadvertently created a searchable database of chemtrail believers. Consequently, Louisiana has become the official record-keeper for a conspiracy theory.

The State Only Collects Reports, Not Acts on Them

The law allows people to report suspicious activity, but it gives the state almost no power to act on those reports. The final version of Act 95 says the LDEQ will receive the reports "for the purpose of data collection" and must make them public. There is no requirement to investigate, check the accuracy, or take any action.

Speaking with The Advocate/NOLA.com, LDEQ spokesperson Meagan Molter confirmed the agency’s limited role, saying that running the portal is a passive task and does not overlap with its primary responsibilities.

"These are strictly for data collection. It does not interfere with our daily regular duties we have by law to go and investigate things that are actually in our purview, like spills."

Lawmakers chose this limited approach on purpose. Another bill, HB 608, introduced by Representative Kimberly Landry Coates, would have imposed a $200,000 fine for violations, but it did not pass. By rejecting the stricter bill and choosing SB 46’s data collection, the legislature decided to acknowledge people’s fears without adding any new rules or scientific work for the state.

A Political Feedback Loop Has Emerged

Without any way to enforce it, the law’s primary role is now political. It has created a strong feedback loop between concerned citizens and the politicians who support them. The reporting portal now serves to validate and amplify the same concerns that led to its creation.

The main reason given for the law was personal observation, not scientific evidence. Senator "Big Mike" Fesi, who wrote the bill, said in an interview that the only proof needed was to "Look up in our sky" and see "all of the stripes across the skies." Other politicians have built on this, encouraging people to use the new system and presenting it as a way for citizens to take action. On 23rd October, State Senator Valarie Hodges tweeted to her followers:

"LOOK UP, LOUISIANA! THEY’RE SPRAYING OUR SKIES AGAIN... If you see suspicious sky activity, take photos and file an official report directly to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)... Our skies belong to We the People, not to corporations, contractors, or agencies experimenting with our weather."

Federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), explain that the so-called "chemtrails" are actually normal jet condensation trails, or contrails, formed when jet exhaust meets cold air at high altitudes.

A Digital Record of a Modern Debate

The central result of Louisiana’s geoengineering ban was not technological change but the creation of a state-run digital archive of citizen beliefs tied to a conspiracy theory. The law effectively made the LDEQ, an agency of scientists and regulators, responsible for maintaining a public diary that records fears about "tic-tac-toe" skies and Acura logos.

The law gave its supporters what they wanted: official recognition of their concerns. But it also raises an important question about the balance between public belief, scientific evidence, and policymaking. What happens in the long run when a state records its citizens’ fears but cannot address them with facts?