The proposed bill would amend current statutes by transferring the provisions that prohibit local governments from regulating unmanned aircraft from Title 13 to Titles 9 and 11 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Specifically, it would insert new sections that clarify that cities and towns, as well as counties, cannot enact ordinances related to the ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft or systems, rendering any such existing ordinances void. Additionally, the bill would define terms related to unmanned aircraft and specify exemptions that allow local governments to regulate certain aspects, such as land use approvals for unmanned aircraft systems in residential areas and existing regulations not explicitly related to unmanned aircraft.

Furthermore, the bill would delete outdated language that previously governed these regulations and replace it with more precise definitions and conditions under which local governments can operate. For instance, it would allow local governments to manage land use for unmanned aircraft systems within a specified radius of residential zones and clarify that they can still enforce existing regulations that do not specifically target unmanned aircraft. Overall, the bill aims to streamline and clarify the legal framework surrounding unmanned aircraft regulation at the local level.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-500.54, 11-256.31, 13-3729