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Senate Bill S6305

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to the unlawful use of a remotely piloted aircraft

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

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2025-S6305 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §240.00, add §240.80, Pen L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S5944
2021-2022: S3235
2023-2024: S4823

2025-S6305 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the unlawful use of a remotely piloted aircraft; defines remotely piloted aircraft as a device used for flight in the air which is operated remotely without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

2025-S6305 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S6305 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6305
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the unlawful use or opera-
   tion of a remotely piloted aircraft
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Section 240.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 8 to read as follows:
   8. "REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT" MEANS A DEVICE USED FOR FLIGHT  IN  THE
 AIR  WHICH  IS OPERATED REMOTELY WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT HUMAN
 INTERVENTION FROM WITHIN OR ON THE AIRCRAFT.
   § 2. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.80  to  read
 as follows:
 § 240.80 UNLAWFUL USE OR OPERATION OF A REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT.
   A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY  OF  UNLAWFUL  USE  OR  OPERATION OF AN UNMANNED
 AIRCRAFT WHEN DURING THE PERSONAL USE OR  OPERATION  OF  SUCH  AIRCRAFT,
 EXCEPT  AS  OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY FEDERAL LAW, SUCH PERSON INTENTIONALLY
 OPERATES A REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT:
   1. IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF  THE  UNITED  STATES
 DEPARTMENT  OF  TRANSPORTATION  AND  THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
 (FAA) OR SUCCESSORS THEREOF; OR
   2. IN A RECKLESS MANNER SO AS TO ENDANGER THE LIFE OR SAFETY OF ANOTH-
 ER PERSON OR PROPERTY OF A PERSON.
   UNLAWFUL USE  OR  OPERATION  OF  A  REMOTELY  PILOTED  AIRCRAFT  IS  A
 VIOLATION.
   §  3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10366-01-5

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