UAS Statutes & Regulations
Ohio Legislation - Pending
House Bill 218
H.B. 218 seeks to enact sections 4561.50 and 4561.51 of the Ohio Revised Code to regulate the operation of drones near airports, as well as impose certain record-keeping requirements on retail sellers of drones. The bill would make flying a drone near airports a first-degree felony and would impose significant jail time and fines on the drone operator should his or her unmanned aircraft collide with a manned aircraft.
House Bill 228
H.B. 228 seeks to amend sections 2981.01 and 2981.02 and enact section 2917.48 of the Ohio Revised Code to prohibit "engaging in criminal activity through use of a drone." Upon enactment of the bill, those who fly or supervise an unmanned system to commit criminal offenses would face felony charges entailing a fine and prison time.
Senate Bill 251
S.B. 251 seeks to enact sections 2933.67, 2933.68, 2933.69 and 2933.70 of the Ohio Revised Code to regulate the use of drones for gathering evidence and information by law enforcement officers in Ohio.
Ohio Legislation - Enacted
House Bill 292
H.B. 292, which became effective on September 17, 2014, created the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Study Commission to, among other tasks, review drone/UAV uses in Ohio.
Federal Legislation - Pending
Drone Operator Safety Act (S.2249)
The Drone Operator Safety Act seeks to amend title 18 of the United States Code to impose criminal penalties for the unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft.
SAFE DRONE Act of 2015 (H.R.3669 and S.2157)
The SAFE DRONE Act of 2015 proposes the amendment of the federal criminal code to make it a crime to knowingly operate a drone in a restricted area.
Consumer Drone Safety Act (S.1608)
The Consumer Drone Safety Act seeks to protect the safety of the national airspace system from the hazardous operation of consumer drones.
Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act of 2015 (H.R.1229 and S.635)
The Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act of 2015 seeks to amend the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to provide guidance and limitations regarding the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. airspace.
Commercial UAS Modernization Act (S.1314)
The Commercial UAS Modernization Act proposes the establishment of an interim rule for the operation of small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes and their safe integration into the national airspace system.
Responsible Skies Act of 2015 (H.R.798)
The Responsible Skies Act of 2015 seeks to amend the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to prohibit the flying of unmanned recreational aircraft near commercial airports.