Senate Bill 2543, also known as House Bill 2368, proposes amendments to various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, particularly focusing on criminal justice. One significant change is the amendment of Section 39-16-202(a)(1), where the term "five (5)" is replaced with "three (3)." Additionally, the bill introduces a new section under Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 9, which establishes the offense of unauthorized operation of an unmanned aircraft near ticketed entertainment events. This new provision makes it a Class A misdemeanor to operate an unmanned aircraft within 400 feet of such events unless specific exceptions apply, such as obtaining consent from authorized individuals or being engaged in official duties.

The bill outlines several exceptions to the prohibition on operating unmanned aircraft, including scenarios involving consent from event authorities, federal aviation authorization, and official duties performed by law enforcement or military personnel. It also defines a "ticketed entertainment event" as any event requiring a ticket for attendance, held in a location with restricted access. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to actions occurring on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-16-202(a)(1), 39-16-202
Amended with HA0998 -- 04/06/2026: 39-16-202(a)(1), 39-16-202