Even before 60 Minutes’ Morley Safer told America that their skies were full of mostly-unregulated drones, I predicted that drones would be hot issue in state legislatures this year (and will be in future years until the U.S. Government and state governments can decide how to regulate these unmanned vehicles).
I made this (not so bold) prediction because, as Mr. Safer told us, while drones are still in their infancy as for private sector use, they are expected to soon be a multi-billion dollar industry. But mainly because of the reasons stated in Alaska State Legislature’s HCR 6 – Establishing a Legislative Task Force on Unmanned Aircraft.
The resolution, which was passed by Alaska’s House and Senate, state “WHEREAS unmanned aircraft systems may present a risk to privacy, but neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor any other state or federal agency currently has specific statutory authority to regulate privacy matters relating to unmanned aircraft systems.”
And when you combine the lack of state AND federal regulation on an issue with the time that it takes Congress or a Federal Agency to act on an issue, you can expect states to step up and take action.
And the states did not disappoint me. Thirty-five states introduced nearly 160 bills related to “unmanned aircraft” or drones. They cover a wide range of interesting topics, though task forces, study committees, hunting and law enforcement among the be the most common.
Hunters and anglers are on both sides of the drone issue in states, as states look to protect the right to hunt and fish, but also to make sure that hunting is still actually hunting. Alabama SB 240 and Illinois HB1652, would make it illegal to use drones to harass hunters, and Wyoming HB30 would make it illegal for hunters to use drones to spot or locate possible targets.
Rules for law enforcement were high on state’s agendas. Tennessee, Utah and others introduced legislation clarifying whether a warrant is required by law enforcement before beginning unmanned surveillance and whether to admit evidence obtained during unmanned surveillance into evidence. Illinois introduced and passed the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act (IL SB 1587), and have already passed an amendment to the new law (IL SB2937) that is waiting for the governor’s signature while still in the same session.
Take a look at drone-related legislation that passed during their most recent session.
I don’t see the drone issue going away anytime soon. In a number of states, drone-related legislation is stuck in or has died in committee. Most of those bills will probably be tweaked and reintroduced. And many states that passed task forces and study committees will be getting initial reports in, and will be considering legislation based on those recommendations.
Interested in a deeper look into legislation related to unmanned aircraft? Click here for the full list of drone-related legislation from states’ most recent sessions.
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