This bill establishes the crime of unlawful operation or use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and outlines the associated penalties. It introduces a new section, RSA 644:23, which defines key terms related to small unmanned aircraft systems and specifies that individuals can be charged with a violation for a first offense and a misdemeanor for subsequent offenses if they operate a UAS in violation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. The bill also stipulates that operating a UAS in a manner that interferes with emergency response operations or in FAA-restricted airspace can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the circumstances. Notably, news media personnel are exempt from certain provisions if they comply with specific FAA regulations and directives from law enforcement.

Additionally, the bill amends RSA 422 to include prohibitions against operating a small unmanned aircraft system in violation of the newly established RSA 644:23 and outlines penalties for such violations. The penalties for these violations are aligned with those specified in RSA 644:23. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may affect the judicial and correctional systems, potentially influencing costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole for the state and local governments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 422:28, 422:29
As Amended by the House: 422:28, 422:29