Operating a drone over prisons, jails, juvenile detention facilities, or military installations without permission is now a Class 6 felony (a more serious crime than before). Law enforcement officers are authorized to use countermeasures and mitigation techniques to stop illegal drones, and the Department of Public Safety will create rules and training programs to guide officers on which techniques are allowed and how to use them.
The bill was rewritten to amend existing law rather than create new sections, narrowing the drone prohibition to prisons, jails, and military facilities, reducing the penalty from Class 6 felony to Class 1 misdemeanor, and replacing specific interception methods with general mitigation techniques subject to rulemaking.
The penalty for operating a drone over restricted facilities was increased from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony.
Signed by the Governor H.J. 562
Delivered to the Governor H.J. 546
Signed by the President S.J. 512
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 542
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 481
Judiciary Certified uncontested, placed on consent S.J. 34
Judiciary Do Pass Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0. S.J. 34
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 398
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 61, NAYS 5. H.J. 423
Military and Veterans Affairs Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Military and Veterans Affairs Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0.
Military and Veterans Affairs Motion to amend
Military and Veterans Affairs Scheduled for hearing H.J. 1
Military and Veterans Affairs Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Military and Veterans Affairs H.J. 219
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Judiciary — Do Pass
Do Pass Amended
Military and Veterans Affairs — Do Pass Amended