Florida lawmakers are trying to crack down on anyone who attempts to change or alter the weather in the state.
It might sound crazy, but it's true. Claims have spread across social media, including from some Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee, claiming that people are trying to manipulate our weather, and now they want to make it a serious crime.
You've probably seen those white streaks in the sky behind planes. They're called "contrails" similar to the exhaust that can be seen coming out of your car's muffler on a cold day.
Some people refer to those vapor lines in the sky as "chemtrails." Many believe they're chemicals being used to influence weather, and now some Florida lawmakers are buying into this debunked story.
“People have a lot of kooky ideas that they can get in and put things in the atmosphere to block the sun and save us from climate change. We're not playing that game in Florida,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis made clear that he supports a bill that passed the Florida Senate which outlaws weather manipulation, although there is no hard evidence that is happening.
Simply put, people are fooling Mother Nature and, as the old Chiffon Butter commercial of the 1980s often repeated, “It's not nice to fool Mother Nature."
However, this latest notion that anyone but Mother Nature could control weather likely started with a post from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene last October between Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
Greene posted, “They can control the weather. It's ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can't be done.”
Nursing student Shanay Aguilera is among those who saw the post on social media and questioned its legitimacy.
“I wouldn't just believe whatever they say on the social media post. I would look around and do some information and Google more information. I wouldn’t just go off the first post I see,” she said.
Gulf Coast News meteorologist Lauren Hope was asked if there was any way possible for someone to control or create a storm, including a hurricane.
“There is no scientific consensus that anyone would be able to generate a hurricane,” Hope clarified.
Hope studied weather science and said three main ingredients are needed for storms like hurricanes.
“You need hot sea surface temperatures at 80 degrees and an existing weather disturbance, a cluster of storms, and you need low wind shear. This is something our earth's atmosphere is generating to try to create balance on our planet so we can live here,” Hope explained.
Conspiracy theorists, however, believe vapor trails behind planes could be used to alter weather, again without proof.
Despite this, Senate Bill 56 would make it illegal to manipulate the temperature, weather, climate or sunlight. Violators caught trying could face a third-degree felony and thousands in fines.
“This is something humans have no role in,” Hope made clear.
Republican state Sen. Ilena Garcia's bill even calls for setting up a hotline to report suspicious weather activity.
“I support the legislation however the House of Representatives has gutted Senator Garcia's legislation and they would actually codify the practice of geo engineering and weather modification,” Governor DeSantis announced on social media.
If the two bills don't match up, they won't make it to the governor's desk to pass, and time is running out in the current legislative session.