Enacted Laws
HB 22 – Citizens' Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act - prohibits the use of evidence obtained by a drone in violation of state prohibitions. View the Bill
SB 157 – Includes drones in the definition of dangerous contraband. View the Bill
HB 324 – Establishes the offices of trespass upon key infrastructure assets, including knowingly flying an unmanned aircraft above real property on which key infrastructure assets are located with the intent to conduct surveillance. View the Bill
Active Legislation
NACDL has not identified any active legislation for this state.
Previously Introduced Legislation (2022)
HB 545 – Requires the Department of Aviation to establish an aviation development grant program to solicit and evaluate proposed projects and award grants. Allows the department to use 15% of the money in the aviation development fund to develop an innovative aircraft system program which may include unmanned aircraft systems. View the Bill
HB 346 – Provides that no federal, state, or local law enforcement or regulatory agency shall be granted in-person or drone access to private lands for any inspection, visit, surveillance, or installation of surveillance devices without immediate probable cause, a warrant, or landowner permission. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2021)
HB 244 – Prohibits law enforcement agencies from receiving certain surplus military equipment, including drones that are armored and/or weaponized, from the federal government. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2019)
HB 238 – Amend KRS 511.100 to change the definition of key infrastructure assets and include felony penalties for trespass upon key infrastructure assets in the first degree. View the Bill
HB 370 – Prohibits local governments from regulating use or ownership of drones, other than by the local government itself. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2018)
SB 42 – Prohibits the use of unmanned aircraft systems to conduct surveillance of persons lawfully engaged in hunting, trapping, or fishing. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2017)
SB 51 – Creates a new section of Chapter 183 to create the offense of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system; define "critical infrastructure," "unmanned aircraft," and "unmanned aircraft system"; prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft system to collect evidence or information about critical infrastructure without prior written consent and make the unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system for this purpose a Class A or Class B misdemeanor. View the Bill
HB 291 – Amend KRS 446.010 to define "drone"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 500 prescribe permitted and prohibited uses of drones. View the Bill
HB 540 – Allows airports to prepare unmanned aircraft facility maps; prohibits the operate of an unmanned aircraft or the operator’s supervisor from operating or allowing the operation of an unmanned aircraft in a reckless manner or a manner that would cause an incursion, exempt unmanned aircraft operated form commercial purpose in accordance with FAA regulations. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2016)
HB 22 - Create a new section of KRS Chapter 500 to define ""drone""; prohibit a law enforcement agency from using a drone to gather evidence or other information; provide exceptions; prohibit use of evidence obtained in violation; provide that the Act may be cited as the ""Citizens' Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act."" View the Bill
HB 67 - Create a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to define the new offense of drone harassment; amend KRS 446.010 to define "drone." View the Bill
HB 120 - Prohibits the use of a drone for the purpose of harassment, to commit acts of voyeurism, or facilitation burglary; allows the use of drones for lawful commercial, personal, or law enforcement use. View the Bill
HB 375 - Create a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to prohibit a person from weaponizing an unmanned aerial vehicle; create a new section of KRS Chapter 381 to allow a person who owns or lawfully occupies real property to bring an action for trespass against the owner or operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle under certain circumstances; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to regulate use of unmanned aerial vehicles by law enforcement; create a new section of KRS Chapter 15A to require the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to establish and maintain a registry of unmanned aerial vehicles that are operated by public agencies, to adopt regulations limiting the public purposes for which an agency may operate an unmanned aerial vehicle, and to submit an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission outlining the activities of public agencies with respect to the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles; create a new section of KRS Chapter 183 to regulate use of unmanned aerial vehicles by public agencies; create a new section of KRS Chapter 183 to prohibit a person from operating an unmanned aerial vehicle within a certain distance from critical facilities or an airport; amend KRS 446.010 to define "unmanned aerial vehicle." View the Bill
HB 445 - Create a new section of KRS Chapter 438 to prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft system to collect evidence or information about critical infrastructure without prior written consent and make the unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system for this purpose a Class A or Class B misdemeanor. View the Bill
SB 233 - Creates a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to prohibit the use of a drone for purposes of harassment, to commit acts of voyeurism, or for facilitation of property offenses; allow the use of drones for lawful commercial, personal, or law enforcement use; provide that a violation for use of a drone for harassment purposes is a violation and for any other purpose enumerated in the section is a Class B misdemeanor; create a new section of KRS Chapter 39G to require Office for Homeland Security to promulgate administrative regulations regarding use of drones on state property; amend KRS 446.010 to define "drone." View the Bill
SB 281 - This bill prohibit and create penalties for the use of drone to surveil critical infrastructure without consent; prohibit and create penalties for the use of a drone for harassment, voyeurism, and facilitation of burglary; prohibit and create penalties for adding a lethal payload to a drone; provide exceptions; create a new section of Chapter 183 to prohibit a law enforcement agency from using a drone to gather evidence or other information and prohibit use of evidence obtained in violation; provide that the section may be cited as the "Citizens' Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 39G to allow the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security to promulgate administrative regulations regarding drones. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2015)
HB 12 - Create a new section of KRS Chapter 500 to define ""drone""; prohibit a law enforcement agency from using a drone to gather evidence or other information; provide exceptions; prohibit use of evidence obtained in violation; provide that the Act may be cited as the ""Citizens' Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act."" View the Bill
SB 38 - Amend KRS 150.710 to prohibit the use of a drone to disrupt lawful hunting, trapping, or fishing; amend KRS 446.010 to define ""drone"". View the Bill
SB 56 - Amend KRS 150.710 to include unmanned aerial vehicles as a prohibited means of obstructing or disrupting the lawful taking of wildlife. View the Bill