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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
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 to intentionally photograph or loiter over the area, unless the operator has legal authority or administrative oversight 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.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies that the operation or use of an unmanned aircraft within 100 feet of a school, or 100 feet above a school, is unlawful if the intent is to photograph or loiter over the area.
2. Allows permission to use of an unmanned aircraft to be granted by a person with administrative oversight over the area.
3. Makes conforming changes.
Senate Action
JUDE 2/20/26 DP 4-2-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 4, 2026
ZD/MY/ci