Tennessee Senate Bill SB1111

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 42; Title 56 and Title 66, relative to drones.

Summary

SB1111 is a narrow directive to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s existing drone study group. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated section 42-2-301(f) to require the group to study the laws and regulations of other states that restrict drone operations over private property. It does not itself create a new statewide drone restriction, licensing rule, or enforcement mechanism. In practical terms, the bill is a research and policy-review measure focused on privacy, property rights, and unmanned aircraft use. By adding this topic to the study mandate, the General Assembly would be gathering comparative information that could inform future legislation on drones flying over private land.

Impact

The bill would change Tennessee law only by expanding the scope of an existing statutory study under Title 42. It affects the state’s agricultural/drone advisory or study process rather than directly regulating drone operators, property owners, or law enforcement. No penalties, permits, or operational restrictions are created by this bill; its legal effect is limited to requiring review of other states’ approaches to drone overflight of private property.

Sentiment

Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available record. The bill’s text suggests a generally cautious, informational approach to a potentially controversial issue, indicating interest in evaluating drone privacy rules before adopting any substantive restrictions. Overall sentiment appears neutral and exploratory rather than strongly supportive or resistant.

Contention

The main policy tension underlying the bill is between drone use and private-property privacy rights. Supporters of tighter regulation would likely favor studying how other states limit flights over private land, while drone users, commercial operators, and technology advocates may be concerned that the study could lead to future restrictions. Since the bill only commissions a study, any contention is prospective and centered on what future drone-over-private-property rules might look like, not on immediate regulatory burdens.