SB378 Summary

• Creates the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act prohibiting flight over designated facilities (refineries, chemical plants, power generation, ports, water treatment facilities) without owner consent; first offense is Class B misdemeanor, second or subsequent offense is Class A misdemeanor.

• Prohibits using unmanned aircraft systems to harass hunters or fishers or to aid in hunting or fishing; also prohibits disrupting manned aircraft (Class C felony), interfering with law enforcement/emergency personnel, flying over prisons, or equipping systems with weapons (Class A misdemeanor violations).

• Authorizes civil actions by facility owners to recover $5,000 per unlawfully published photograph or image, plus attorney's fees and court costs; provides affirmative defense if images are destroyed or dissemination stopped upon discovery of violation.

• Restricts governmental agency use of unmanned aircraft to gather evidence without a search warrant, except for emergency situations (imminent danger, suspect escape, terrorism prevention, natural disasters), plain view surveillance, public events, search and rescue, or crime scene documentation.

• Exempts federal law-authorized systems, military/defense uses, and systems used by facility owners for business operations including property inspection, maintenance, and storm damage assessment.