This bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and introduces new definitions and regulations. It revises the definition of "critical infrastructure facility" to include various types of facilities, such as power generation sites, water treatment plants, and communication facilities, while also adding an exception that allows drone operations over these facilities for commercial purposes if authorized by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. The bill increases the penalties for violations related to drone operations over critical infrastructure, changing the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony of the third degree.

Additionally, the bill defines "unmanned aircraft" and "unmanned aircraft system," prohibits certain actions involving these systems, and establishes criminal penalties for violations. It allows individuals to use reasonable force to prevent drones from conducting surveillance on their property if the drone is operating below 500 feet. The bill also outlines exceptions for law enforcement use of drones, particularly for crowd monitoring and the security of elected officials. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1422 Filed: 330.41, 330.411, 934.50
S 1422 c1: 330.411
S 1422 c2: 330.411