Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER INSPECTIONS
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
BY UNMANNED AIRCRAFT (DRONES)
Analysis available at
House Bill 5732 as reported from committee http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Sponsor: Rep. Nate Shannon
Committee: Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure
Complete to 6-19-24
SUMMARY:
House Bill 5732 would amend the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act to allow a state department,
agency, board, or commission, or a person under contract with or acting at the direction or on
behalf of any of those entities, to use an unmanned aircraft system (i.e., a drone) to inspect a
telecommunications tower facility, grounds, antennae, a shelter site, or similar infrastructure.
The act generally prohibits the state entities described above from using an unmanned aircraft
system to surveil, inspect, or collect evidence or information about a facility that is subject to
a permit, license, or order issued by or a decree or other requirement governed by that entity,
with certain exceptions. The bill would add inspecting a telecommunications tower facility,
grounds, antennae, a shelter site, or similar infrastructure to those exceptions.
As with similar exceptions under the act, the unmanned aircraft system would have to be clearly
marked as a state-owned or state-operated aircraft. Any data, including videos, photographic
images, or geospatial data, collected by the operation of an unmanned aircraft system
concerning the facility would have to be furnished promptly to the facility's owner or operator
upon request and would be rebuttably presumed to be not subject to disclosure under the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
MCL 259.307
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill is permissive and does not mandate actions of the state or local units of government.
The bill does not appear to have a direct fiscal impact on the state, specifically the Michigan
Department of Transportation, or local units of government.
POSITIONS:
The Department of Technology, Management, and Budget indicated support for the bill.
(6-18-24)
Legislative Analyst: E. Best
Fiscal Analyst: William E. Hamilton
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
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Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 259.307