Bill Details
View committees (1)
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would let a person shoot down a drone flying low over their own property in certain situations. It says the person must use a legally owned shotgun, follow state gun laws, and reasonably believe the drone is flying no more than 200 feet above their land. The bill also says the person does not have to give the drone back to its owner, but may do so if asked. If the person can read the drone’s registration number, they must report the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration within 60 days. The FAA would also have to write rules to carry out the law. The bill does not change state laws about criminal or civil liability.
- The rule would only apply when a drone is believed to be flying at or below 200 feet over property owned by the person.
- The person would have to use a legally obtained shotgun and follow any state law about firing a gun.
- If the drone’s registration number is known, the incident must be reported to the FAA within 60 days, along with the address where it happened.
- The bill says state laws about injury, damage, or crimes would still apply, and the FAA would need to issue regulations for the new rule.
Official Summaries
Defense Against Drones Act of 2025
This bill allows an individual to shoot an unmanned aircraft (i.e., drone) using a legally obtained shotgun if the individual reasonably believes the drone is flying not more than 200 feet above the individual's property. This is subject to applicable state law on the discharge of a firearm.
Not later than 60 days after an event in which an individual shoots a drone and is able to identify its registration number, the individual must report the event's location and the registration number to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
An individual may, but shall not be required to, return the drone to the owner at the owner's request.
The FAA must issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this bill.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1907 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1907
To allow an individual to shoot an unmanned aircraft flying over
property owned by the individual under certain circumstances, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2025
Mr. Burchett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To allow an individual to shoot an unmanned aircraft flying over
property owned by the individual under certain circumstances, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Defense Against Drones Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY FROM UNMANNED AIRCRAFT.
(a) In General.--Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 44815. Protection of private property from unmanned aircraft
``(a) In General.--Subject to applicable State law relating to the
discharge of a firearm, an individual may shoot an unmanned aircraft
using a legally obtained shotgun if the individual reasonably believes
that such aircraft is flying not more than 200 feet above property
owned by the individual.
``(b) Return of Aircraft.--An individual may, but shall not be
required to, return an unmanned aircraft shot down under subsection (a)
to the owner of such aircraft upon request by such owner.
``(c) Reporting.--Not later than 60 days after an event in which an
individual shoots an unmanned aircraft under subsection (a) and is able
to identify the registration number of such aircraft, the individual
shall report to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration--
``(1) the address at which such event occurred; and
``(2) such registration number.
``(d) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue such regulations
as are necessary to carry out this section.
``(e) Definition of Shotgun.--In this section, the term `shotgun'
has the meaning given such term in section 921 of title 18, United
States Code.
``(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to preempt or otherwise have any effect on any State law
relating to tort liability or criminal liability for an action taken
under subsection (a).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 448 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``44815. Protection of private property from unmanned aircraft.''.
<all>