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Committee raises penalties for drones that interfere with wildfire suppression; amended bill approved and sent to floor
Summary
Senate Bill 1125 was amended to increase penalties for knowingly or recklessly causing unmanned aircraft systems to interfere with wildfire suppression or emergency response. The Judiciary Committee adopted a dash-1 amendment that clarifies and tiers criminal penalties and forwarded the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary on March 19 adopted a dash-1 amendment to Senate Bill 1125 increasing criminal penalties for conduct that causes unmanned aircraft systems to interfere with wildfire suppression or emergency response, then voted to advance the amended bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation.
Tisha (committee staff) explained the amendment creates a tiered penalty structure: a Class A felony if a person knowingly, intentionally or recklessly causes death or serious physical injury by using an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with emergency response or wildfire suppression; increased felony classifications for causing property damage or other interference; and application of the changes to conduct occurring on or after the bill's effective date.
Senator Thatcher moved adoption of the dash-1 amendments and later moved that the amended bill be sent to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. Committee discussion referenced recent incidents where drones impeded firefighting aircraft, and members debated appropriate felony classifications for interference that resulted in property damage or physical harm. One senator requested additional time to review the draft language before floor action, but the committee adopted the amendment and approved the bill for the floor.
Outcome: The dash-1 amendments were adopted and Senate Bill 1125 as amended was forwarded to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation; the chair will carry the bill.
