The bill amends sections 4561.01 and 4561.11 of the Revised Code and enacts new sections 4561.60 to 4561.64, establishing regulations for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by law enforcement and expanding the definition of aviation facilities within the Aeronautics Law. Key insertions include the definitions of various aviation facilities such as seaplane bases, heliports, vertiports, and spaceports, as well as the introduction of terms related to UAV operations, such as "surveillance data" and "flight data." The bill also outlines the requirements for law enforcement agencies to obtain search warrants when using UAVs for surveillance, with specific exceptions for exigent circumstances and other defined situations.

Additionally, the bill prohibits law enforcement from using UAVs armed with lethal weapons and requires consent for surveillance of private individuals. It mandates that law enforcement agencies document and retain flight data and surveillance data relevant to ongoing investigations. The bill also clarifies that flight data is considered a public record unless exempted. Existing sections 4561.01 and 4561.11 are repealed, streamlining the legal framework governing aviation and UAV operations in Ohio.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4561.01, 4561.11