Oregon House Committee advances HB 3426 A enhancing drone interference penalties

The Senate Committee on Judiciary convened on May 5, 2025, to discuss several key legislative measures, including House Bill 2008 A and House Bill 3426 A. The meeting began with a review of House Bill 2008 A, which focuses on the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (OCPA). A representative urged the adoption of the bill with a dash 4 amendment, which aims to enhance readability and clarity for industry stakeholders without making substantive changes to existing law. The representative emphasized the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between privacy advocates and industry partners who contributed to the bill's development.

During the discussion, a committee member raised a question regarding the significance of the 750-foot threshold for precise geolocation data, which is already established in Oregon law. The representative explained that this figure aligns with definitions used in other states, although the exact reasoning for its selection remains unclear. The conversation also touched on clarifications within the amendment to ensure that certain consumer actions, such as sharing location data through social media, are not restricted by the OCPA.

Following the discussion on House Bill 2008 A, the committee recessed to address House Bill 3426 A, which seeks to expand criminal penalties for interference with public safety activities by unmanned aircraft systems. This bill proposes to elevate penalties for reckless interference from a class A violation to a class B misdemeanor and for intentional interference from a class A misdemeanor to a class C felony. The representative highlighted recent incidents, including a medical helicopter being forced to turn back due to drone interference and a drone colliding with a firefighting aircraft, underscoring the need for stricter regulations as drone usage increases.

The committee members expressed their concerns and support for the measures, recognizing the growing challenges posed by unmanned aircraft in emergency situations. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further evaluate the implications of both bills as they progress through the legislative process.