This bill amends RSA 216-A to permit the use of drones or small unmanned aircraft in state parks for both commercial and recreational purposes, contingent upon certain conditions. Operators must possess either a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 14 C.F.R. Part 107 certificate or have passed the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). The bill outlines specific exceptions where drone operation is prohibited, including interference with park enjoyment, during ski season at Cannon Mountain, and at Flume Gorge from May to October. Additionally, the bill establishes that operators are liable for any damages caused by their drones and must retrieve drones that land in state parks, with a potential retrieval fee of up to $100.

The legislation also introduces a fee structure for commercial drone operations, allowing the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to charge up to $25 per day for drone flights, while violations of the regulations can result in fines up to $300, with a specific fine of $100 for failure to retrieve a drone. The bill stipulates that fines collected will be credited to the state park fund. The effective date for this act is set for January 1, 2026. Overall, the fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it is unclear how many commercial operators will utilize the parks or how many violations may occur.