House Bill 839 Summary

• Establishes the "Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Rights and Authorities Act" allowing individuals and businesses to operate uncrewed aircraft systems for recreational and commercial purposes in Mississippi in compliance with federal law and state law.

• Prohibits state and local registration requirements for uncrewed aircraft beyond what the Federal Aviation Administration requires, and establishes that lawful federal operations do not create automatic legal liability under state or local law.

• Permits aerial trespass liability only when an uncrewed aircraft intentionally enters the immediate airspace adjacent to land without consent and substantially interferes with the landowner's use and enjoyment of the property.

• Restricts political subdivisions from enacting ordinances regulating uncrewed aircraft ownership, operation, design, certification, pilot qualifications, and airspace; allows only ordinances enforcing FAA restrictions, regulating municipal aircraft operations, or addressing general nuisances and illegal acts.

• Amends existing unmanned aircraft protections law (Section 97-47-5) to make illegal the surveillance of critical infrastructure or correctional facilities without consent, and the delivery of contraband to correctional facilities, with penalties of up to one year imprisonment for the former and three to fifteen years for the latter; effective July 1, 2023.