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House approves bill expanding state enforcement powers over drones after debate on federal law overlap
Summary
The New Hampshire House voted to concur with the Senate on House Bill 4 68, a bill broadening state enforcement authority over unmanned aircraft systems. Supporters said the change allows state police to act where they cannot now; opponents warned the measure imports federal rules into state law and could criminalize innocuous possession.
The New Hampshire House on June 5 approved House Bill 4 68, a measure supporters say will let state law enforcement act against unsafe or malicious drone operations by allowing enforcement of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules in places state police could not before.
The bill matters because backers argued it fills an enforcement gap that has left critical infrastructure, including water supplies, exposed to unregulated drone flights; opponents said the bill’s references to federal statutes risk creating open‑ended state criminal offenses and could sweep in lawful possession.
Representative Roy, speaking in favor of…
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