AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to unmanned aircraft.
Summary
SB1631 amends Tennessee’s criminal code provisions related to unmanned aircraft, with a particular focus on protecting correctional facilities. The bill removes one existing subdivision from the drone-related offense statute, updates cross-references, and adds a new offense making it unlawful to knowingly use an unmanned aircraft over any portion of property that includes a correctional facility. A violation of this new provision is classified as a Class C felony.
The bill also authorizes correctional facility employees to disable an unmanned aircraft that is operating over correctional-facility property in violation of the new prohibition. If an employee or facility disables such a drone, the correctional facility and employee are shielded from liability for damage to the aircraft. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
Impact
This bill would expand Tennessee’s existing restrictions on unmanned aircraft by creating a specific felony offense for drone use over correctional-facility property and by granting correctional staff express authority to disable violating drones without civil liability. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39, including the drone-related criminal provisions in §§ 39-13-903 and 39-16-201, and narrows/updates the referenced subdivisions to align with the new offense structure. The practical effect is to strengthen enforcement tools for prisons and jails and increase criminal exposure for drone operators who fly over those facilities.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests broad support for the bill. In the Senate Judiciary Committee, SB1631 was recommended for passage with amendments by an 8-0 vote, indicating unanimous support among voting members present. No committee transcript was provided, but the vote history reflects a generally favorable view of the measure and little visible opposition at that stage.
Contention
The main policy issue raised by the bill is the balance between correctional-facility security and drone operators’ rights or property interests. Supporters are likely to favor the bill’s security rationale and the ability of correctional staff to respond immediately to drones over prison property, while potential concerns could center on the breadth of the prohibition, the felony penalty, and the authorization to disable aircraft with no liability for resulting damage. No specific objections are documented in the provided materials, but those are the most likely points of contention.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 3, relative to exemption from sales and use tax on aircraft repair services and parts.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 3, relative to exemption from sales and use tax on aircraft repair services and parts.