Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; contracted defense facility; penalty. Creates a Class 4 felony for any person who knowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any videographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical information located within a contracted defense facility, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill also provides that the owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted defense facility or from stopping, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to stop, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does not result in injury to any person. The bill also directs the Virginia State Crime Commission to (i) analyze existing law to identify statutes to amend to provide additional protection from trespass with an unmanned aircraft system to critical infrastructure or public services or utilities, as defined and described in relevant law, and (ii) recommend amendments to existing law or new legislation it deems necessary to provide such protection to such infrastructure or public services or utilities. The Virginia State Crime Commission shall submit such recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18.2-121.3
HCJ Sub: Criminal Substitute: 18.2-121.3
Courts of Justice Subcommittee Substitute: 18.2-121.3
Courts of Justice Substitute: 18.2-121.3
Enrolled: 18.2-121.3