Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drones topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah Senate Advances Third Substitute on Unmanned Aircraft Rules
Summary
The Senate approved the third substitute to Senate Bill 111, updating state unmanned aircraft rules to align with FAA authority while clarifying state privacy and operational provisions; vote was 26–0 (3 absent).
Senator Harper presented the third substitute to Senate Bill 111 on unmanned aircraft systems after two years of review by stakeholders. The substitute preserves FAA-controlled operational items while clarifying state-level rules on issues such as voyeurism and technology-neutral language for prohibited surveillance.
The sponsor explained the bill removes technology-specific prohibitions and instead describes behavior-based limits, aiming to avoid gaps created by fast-evolving recording technologies. Senators raised questions about whether any new state registration or fee would be required; the sponsor confirmed the substitute contains no state registration fee or separate state registration requirement beyond federal commercial rules.
The Senate voted to adopt the third substitute and move the bill forward; the roll call shows 26 yay votes, 0 nay, and 3 absent. The sponsor said the substitute balances federal authority over airspace with state responsibilities for privacy and local safety.
