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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
schools; prohibition; unmanned aircraft
Purpose
Prohibits a person from operating or using an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system within 100 feet of, or within 100 feet above, certain school instructional areas that are not zoned for residential use, unless the operator has legal authority over the area or obtains consent from a person with legal authority.
Background
A person may not operate a model aircraft or a civil unmanned aircraft if the operation is prohibited by federal law or regulation governing aeronautics or if the operation interferes with a law enforcement, firefighter or emergency services operation. Statute also prohibits a person from operating or using an unmanned aircraft to intentionally photograph or loiter over or near a critical facility in the furtherance of any criminal offense (A.R.S. § 13-3729).
Federal law defines a model aircraft as an unmanned aircraft that is: 1) capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere; 2) flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft; and 3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes (P.L. 112-95, 112th Congress, 2012).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
2. Classifies a violation of the school instructional area operation prohibition as a class 1 misdemeanor.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2026
ZD/MY/ci