The bill amends existing Florida statutes related to unmanned aircraft systems, specifically revising the definition of "critical infrastructure facility" to include additional types of facilities, such as wired communications facilities and airports. It introduces an exception to the prohibition on operating drones over critical infrastructure facilities for commercial purposes, provided that such operations comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The bill also increases the criminal penalty for violations related to drone operations over these facilities, changing the penalty from a misdemeanor of the second degree to a felony of the third degree.
Additionally, the bill defines "unmanned aircraft" and "unmanned aircraft system," and prohibits the possession or operation of these systems with attached weapons or explosives. It establishes penalties for altering or tampering with unmanned aircraft systems to evade identification requirements set by the FAA. The bill also outlines exceptions for law enforcement use of drones, including for crowd monitoring and the security of elected officials, while imposing specific guidelines and penalties for violations. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.
Statutes affected:
H 1121 Filed: 330.41, 330.411, 934.50
H 1121 c1: 330.411, 934.50
H 1121 c2: 330.411, 934.50
H 1121 er: 330.411, 934.50