The House Agriculture Committee debated House Bill 15‑14, a measure described as addressing “harmful atmospheric activity,” and agreed to draft a narrower study of high‑altitude atmospheric activity instead of advancing the bill in its present form.

Chairman Belts opened the item and sponsor Representative Holly said she had considered adding a grandfather clause for counties that already adopted related measures. “I was wondering if we could put in, like, a grandfather clause or something for the counties that have voted to put this in,” Representative Holly said.

Members raised a distinction between cloud seeding and higher‑altitude activities that may fall under Federal Aviation Administration authority. Representative Twight moved to convert the bill into a study on atmospheric activity at altitude; that motion was seconded and debated, but ultimately withdrawn. Representative Volmer said he supported sending the matter to study and pressed on which agency would perform it; the committee discussed possible roles for the Attorney General’s office, the combined Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Department of Environmental Quality.

Representative Jordan and others suggested targeted technical testing — for example, sampling precipitation rather than only sampling air — as a useful part of a study. Representative Hoke and Representative Twight agreed to work with Legislative Council to draft study language; the committee asked that proposed language be ready for consideration at the next scheduled meeting.

Because members cited federal jurisdiction at higher altitudes, the committee agreed to narrow study scope before filing any motion. The motion to convert HB 15‑14 to a study was formally withdrawn and no formal vote on the bill occurred.

The committee directed sponsors to return with proposed study language drafted with Legislative Council and agency input at the next meeting.