Florida 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

SB 1422 — Unmanned Aircraft or Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1121 (Ch. 2025-29)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Unmanned Aircraft or Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Revising the definition of the term “critical infrastructure facility”; increasing the criminal penalty for certain prohibited actions relating to drones; prohibiting certain actions relating to unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems; authorizing certain persons to use reasonable force to prohibit a drone from conducting surveillance under certain circumstances, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

193 added · 201 removed

193 line(s) added, 201 removed.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1422 By the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice;
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1422 By the Committee on Criminal Justice;
the Committee on Criminal Justice;
and Senator Truenow 591-02559-25 20251422c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems;
and Senator Truenow 604-03480-25 20251422c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems;
defining the terms “unmanned aircraft” and “unmanned aircraft system”;
prohibiting certain actions relating to unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems;
prohibiting certain actions relating to unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems;
providing exceptions;
providing an exception;
(a) “Critical infrastructure facility” means any of the following, if completely enclosed by a fence or other physical Page 1 of 7 CODING:
(a) “Critical infrastructure facility” means any of the following, if completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders, or if Page 1 of 7 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1422 604-03480-25 20251422c2 barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders, or if clearly marked with a sign or signs which indicate that entry is forbidden and which are posted on the property in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1422 591-02559-25 20251422c1 clearly marked with a sign or signs which indicate that entry is forbidden and which are posted on the property in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders:
14.
A spaceport territory as defined in s.
331.303(19).
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1422 604-03480-25 20251422c2 14.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1422 591-02559-25 20251422c1 15.
A spaceport territory as defined in s.
331.303(19).
15.
(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a felony of Page 3 of 7 CODING:
(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a felony of the third misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as Page 3 of 7 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1422 604-03480-25 20251422c2 the third misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1422 591-02559-25 20251422c1 provided in s.
330.411 Prohibited possession, alteration, or operation of unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system.— (1) As used in this section, the term:
330.411 Prohibited possession, alteration, or operation of unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system.— (1) A person may not knowingly or willfully possess or operate an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system as defined in s.
(a) “Unmanned aircraft” has the same meaning as the term “drone” in s.
330.41(2) s.
934.50(2).
330.41 with an attached weapon, firearm, explosive, destructive device, or ammunition as defined in s.
(b) “Unmanned aircraft system” has the same meaning as in s.
330.41(2).
(2) A person may not knowingly or willfully possess or operate an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system as defined in s.
330.41 with an attached weapon, firearm, explosive, destructive device, or ammunition as those terms are defined in s.
(3)(a) For the purposes of s.
(2) A person may not knowingly or willfully alter, manipulate, tamper with, or otherwise change an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system’s hardware or software to purposefully frustrate any tool, system, or technology intended to satisfy the remote identification requirements established by the Federal Aviation Administration as they relate to any unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems in violation of s.
330.41(4)(a), a person may not knowingly or willfully:
330.41(4)(a), unless authorized by the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Secretary of Defense, or their respective designees.
1.
(3) A person may not knowingly or willfully possess or operate an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system that has been altered, manipulated, tampered with, or otherwise changed to purposefully frustrate any tool, system, or technology intended to satisfy the remote identification requirements established by the Federal Aviation Administration Page 4 of 7 CODING:
Alter, manipulate, tamper with, or otherwise change an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system’s hardware or software to purposefully frustrate any tool, system, or technology intended to satisfy the remote identification requirements established by the Federal Aviation Administration as they relate to an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system;
or 2.
Possess or operate an unmanned aircraft or unmanned Page 4 of 7 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1422 604-03480-25 20251422c2 aircraft system that has been altered, manipulated, tampered with, or otherwise changed to purposefully frustrate any tool, system, or technology intended to satisfy the remote identification requirements established by the Federal Aviation Administration as they relate to any unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1422 591-02559-25 20251422c1 as they relate to any unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems in violation of s.
(b) This subsection does not apply if a person is authorized by the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Secretary of Defense, or their respective designees, to alter, possess, or operate such an altered unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system.
330.41(4)(a), unless authorized by the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Secretary of Defense, or their respective designees.
(4) A person who violates subsection (2) or subsection (3) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
(4) A person who violates subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (3) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
(5) A person who, without lawful authority, possesses or operates an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system carrying a “weapon of mass destruction” or a “hoax weapon of mass destruction,” as those terms are defined in s.
(5) A person who, without lawful authority, possesses or operates an unmanned aircraft system carrying a weapon of mass destruction, a hoax weapon of mass destruction, a biological agent, or a toxin, as those terms are defined in s.
Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes, are amended, paragraph (r) is added to subsection (4) of that section, and subsection (8) is added to that section, to read:
Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph (r) of subsection (4) and subsection (8) are added to that section, to read:
11.45 may not use a drone equipped with an imaging device to record an image of privately owned real Page 5 of 7 CODING:
11.45 may not use a drone equipped with an imaging device to record an image of privately owned real property or of the owner, tenant, occupant, invitee, or licensee of such property with the intent to conduct surveillance on the individual or property captured in the image in violation of such person’s reasonable expectation of privacy without his or her written consent.
For purposes of this section, a person is presumed to have a reasonable expectation of privacy on his or her privately owned real property if he or she is not observable Page 5 of 7 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1422 604-03480-25 20251422c2 property or of the owner, tenant, occupant, invitee, or licensee of such property with the intent to conduct surveillance on the individual or property captured in the image in violation of such person’s reasonable expectation of privacy without his or her written consent.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1422 591-02559-25 20251422c1 by persons located at ground level in a place where they have a legal right to be, regardless of whether he or she is observable from the air with the use of a drone.
For purposes of this section, a person is presumed to have a reasonable expectation of privacy on his or her privately owned real property if he or she is not observable by persons located at ground level in a place where they have a legal right to be, regardless of whether he or she is observable from the air with the use of a drone.
The head of the law enforcement agency using the drone Page 6 of 7 CODING:
The head of the law enforcement agency using the drone for this purpose must provide written authorization for such use and must maintain a copy on file at the agency.
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Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 1422 604-03480-25 20251422c2 for this purpose must provide written authorization for such use and must maintain a copy on file at the agency.
(8) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— (a) An individual who knowingly or willfully violates paragraph (3)(b) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
(8) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— (a) An individual who knowingly or willfully violates Page 6 of 7 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1422 591-02559-25 20251422c1 paragraph (3)(b) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill revises the definition of 'critical infrastructure facility', adds exceptions and increases penalties for various drone-related offenses in Florida law.

  • 330.41

    20. A critical infrastructure facility as defined in s. 692.201.

    Removes the previous reference to a critical infrastructure facility definition based on s. 692.201.

  • 330.41(4)(a)

    A person may not knowingly or willfully: operate a drone over a critical infrastructure facility, → A person may not knowingly or willfully: operate a drone over a critical infrastructure facility, unless the operation is for a commercial purpose and is authorized by and in compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration regulations;

    Allows drone operations over critical infrastructure facilities for commercial purposes with FAA authorization.

  • 330.41(4)(b)

    A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a felony of the third misdemeanor of the second degree, → A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a felony of the third degree,

    Increases the penalty for violating drone operation rules over critical infrastructure facilities from a misdemeanor to a felony.

  • 330.411(1)(a)

    “Unmanned aircraft” has the same meaning as the term 'drone' in s. 934.50(2).

    Aligns the definition of 'unmanned aircraft' in this section with the definition in another section.

  • 934.50(3)(b)

    A person, a state agency, or a political subdivision as defined in s. 11.45 may not use a drone equipped with an imaging device → A person, a state agency, or a political subdivision as defined in s. 11.45 may not use a drone equipped with an imaging device to record an image of privately owned real property

    Specifies that the prohibition on using drones with imaging devices applies to recording images of privately owned property.

  • 934.50(4)(d)

    To provide a law enforcement agency with an aerial perspective of a crowd of 50 people or more → To provide a law enforcement agency with an aerial perspective of a crowd of 50 people or more or to provide or maintain the public safety of such crowd,

    Expands the exception for drone use to provide public safety alongside aerial perspectives of large crowds.

  • 934.50(4)

    By a law enforcement agency in furtherance of providing and maintaining the security of an elected official pursuant to s. 943.68.

    Adds a new exception allowing law enforcement to use drones for the security of elected officials.

  • 934.50(8)

    An individual who knowingly or willfully violates paragraph (3)(b) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

    Introduces criminal penalties for individuals violating drone surveillance privacy protections.

  • 934.50(8)(b)

    An individual who knowingly or willfully violates paragraph (3)(b) and intentionally distributes surveillance obtained in violation of that paragraph commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

    Creates a felony penalty for knowingly violating drone surveillance rules and distributing obtained images.

Action History

  1. Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1121 (Ch. 2025-29)

  2. Substituted CS/CS/HB 1121

  3. Read 2nd time

  4. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/24/25

  5. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  6. Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0

  7. On Committee agenda-- Rules, 04/16/25, 8:30 am, 412 Knott Building

  8. CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice read 1st time

  9. Now in Rules

  10. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  11. CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

  12. On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 04/10/25, 11:00 am, 37 Senate Building

  13. CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time

  14. Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

  15. Remaining references corrected to Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Rules

  16. Original reference(s) removed: Transportation

  17. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  18. CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

  19. On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 03/18/25, 3:30 pm, 37 Senate Building

  20. Introduced

  21. Referred to Criminal Justice; Transportation; Rules

  22. Filed

Sponsors

  • Keith L. Truenow · Primary
  • Criminal Justice · Primary
  • Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 161 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

  • Truenow, Keith L. Republican
  • Criminal Justice
  • Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (161)

161 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 161 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Favorable

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 4001
Republican 16002
Unaffiliated 1000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 22003
% of votes cast 88%0%0%12%
How each member voted (25)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Not Voting
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Not Voting
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Not Voting
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 8 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Democrat 3000
Republican 4001
Total 8001
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Not Voting
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 2000
Republican 6000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 9000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Smith, Carlos Guillermo Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1422 do?
Unmanned Aircraft or Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Revising the definition of the term “critical infrastructure facility”; increasing the criminal penalty for certain prohibited actions relating to drones; prohibiting certain actions relating to unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems; authorizing certain persons to use reasonable force to prohibit a drone from conducting surveillance under certain circumstances, etc.
Who sponsors SB 1422?
SB 1422 is sponsored by Truenow, Keith L. (Republican), Criminal Justice, and Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice.
What is the current status of SB 1422?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1422?
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