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Sponsor says new drone privacy rules should require consent; police and aviation officials urge clearer public-safety and FAA exemptions
Summary
Sen. Tara Rearen proposed SB 519 to require written consent or statutory limits for drone surveillance over private property; law-enforcement and aviation witnesses told the committee the bill needs clearer exemptions and objective standards because FAA preemption, emergency response needs, and variable visibility could complicate enforcement.
Senator Tara Rearen told the Judiciary Committee SB 519 aims to close a privacy gap created by affordable, widely available drones that can hover over private property and collect imagery, audio and data.
"Drones can cover, hover overhead unseen, capturing imagery, audio, and data from private property," Rearen said, describing revisions to limit intrusive surveillance and to require written consent for flights over private land, while recognizing exceptions for utilities, appraisal, environmental assessment and law enforcement.
Committee members pressed several legal…
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