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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 to intentionally photograph or loiter within 200 feet above a school that provides instruction to students in kindergarten programs or grades 1-12 (K-12), if specified conditions apply.
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
a) the property is not zoned for residential use;
b) the property is used to provide instruction to K-12 students when school is in session, or when school activities are occurring on the property outside of normal school hours;
c) the property owner or a person with lawful control over the property has posted reasonable notice prohibiting entry on or over the property; and
d) a peace officer, the owner of the property or a person who has lawful control over the property has notified the operator of the unmanned aircraft or system of the prohibition and given a reasonable request to leave the property.
2. Specifies that this prohibition does not apply to a person who has legal authority or administrative oversight over the property or a person who obtains consent to operate the aircraft.
3. Classifies a violation of the school instructional area operation prohibition as a class 3 misdemeanor.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. 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.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Modifies conditions that must apply in order for a violation involving the use of an unmanned aircraft to occur, including:
a) specifying that a person may not operate an unmanned aircraft within 200 feet above a public school, rather than within 100 feet above or within 100 feet of the school;
b) specifying that unmanned aircraft may not be operated within such distance of the school while school is in session, or while there are other activities taking place at the school;
c) requiring the owner or lawful operator of the school to post a notice prohibiting the use of the unmanned aircraft; and
d) either the owner, lawful operator or a peace officer must give notice to the operator of this prohibition and requested that they leave the property.
2. Decreases the penalty for operating an unmanned aircraft in such manner from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 3 misdemeanor.
Senate Action House Action
JUDE 2/20/26 DP 4-2-1 PSLE 3/23/26 DP 6-5-0-3
3rd Read 3/4/26 16-13-1 3rd Read 6/11/26 34-20-6
Prepared by Senate Research
June 11, 2026
ZD/MY/ci