House approves misdemeanor for drone surveillance over K–12 school grounds

Representative Jones sponsored a bill (conforming to Senate Bill 2434) creating a Class C misdemeanor for knowingly using an unmanned aircraft to conduct surveillance over public K–12 school grounds. The sponsor told members the bill targets surveillance with intent to monitor students and that routine, permitted uses—such as a parent filming children with school permission—would not be criminalized.

"This bill creates a class C misdemeanor offense for someone knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over the grounds of a public school … with the intent to conduct surveillance," the sponsor said, stressing the measure exempts authorized activity. Representative Warner pressed on common scenarios—parents filming Friday night football games—and asked how the statute would apply and be enforced. "Would this be affected under this bill?" Warner asked, noting usual community uses.

The sponsor replied that permission from the school would make the activity lawful, and that criminal exposure would focus on surveillance intent and publication of images for surveillance purposes: "As long as they don't publish those pictures or use that for intent of surveillance, then it would not impact them," the sponsor said.

Lawmakers adopted an amendment from the Judiciary Committee and, after discussion, took a roll call. The clerk reported the result; the presiding officer declared the bill passed on third and final consideration. The transcript shows the bill received a constitutional majority and was declared passed.

The bill authorizes local and state enforcement of the new misdemeanor and leaves technical enforcement questions—such as tracing drone operators—to law enforcement practice. Next steps: enrollment and transmittal per House rules.