Lawmakers in Tennessee are pushing a bill aimed at banning chemtrails, which are based on a conspiracy theory alleging that commercial aircraft release chemicals into the atmosphere for sinister reasons.

The bill, SB 2691, recently passed in the Senate but has not yet advanced in the House, according to The Tennessean.

The proposed legislation references the conspiracy theory, suggesting that the federal government may conduct geoengineering experiments by deliberately dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere.

However, scientific evidence contradicts this theory, explaining that the trails produced by jets, known as contrails, are primarily composed of water vapor, Business Insider reported.

Contrails form when water vapor from aircraft engines cools and condenses in the atmosphere, creating visible trails.

Atmospheric conditions dictate the formation and duration of contrails, with higher humidity levels resulting in longer-lasting trails.

Despite scientific explanations, a portion of the population believes in the chemtrail conspiracy theory, as evidenced by a 2017 study showing that 10% of Americans consider it “completely” true.

The proposed bill in Tennessee aims to prohibit the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere for altering temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity within the state’s borders.

While critics dismiss the conspiracy theory, some argue that the bill could inadvertently contribute to lowering climate emissions, according to analysis by The Air Current’s Jon Ostrower.

Written by B.C. Begley