Enacted Laws
HB 1758 – Establishes that operation of an unmanned aircraft that is equipped with a chemical dispensing device, an explosive weapon, an improvised explosive device, or a firearm is a Class A misdemeanor. View the Bill
SB 149 – Amends the list of critical infrastructure facilities, as it relates to the prosecution of operation of an unmanned aircraft over certain facilities, to include a military installation owned or operated by or for the federal government, the state, or another governmental entity. View the Bill
HB 912 – Prohibits drones from taking images of persons or properties without the express consent of the person who owns of lawfully occupies the property, provides exceptions for law enforcement usage; warrant needed, felony must be suspected. View the Bill
HB 1424 – Relating to the operation of an unmanned aircraft over certain facilities or sports venues; creating a criminal offense. View the Bill
HB 1643 – Relating to the prosecution of the offense of operation of an unmanned aircraft over certain facilities. View the Bill
HB 1481 – Relating to prohibiting the operation of an unmanned aircraft over certain facilities; creating a criminal offense. View the Bill
HB 2167 – Relating to certain images captured by an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
HB 3628 – Relating to the authority of the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules governing the use of unmanned aircraft in the Capitol Complex; creating a criminal offense. View the Bill
SB 840 – Relating to certain images captured by an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
Active Legislation
HB 560 – Requires the Department of Public Safety to conduct an analysis of emerging and potential future threats to transportation security in Texas, including those posed by unmanned aerial systems with the capability of inflicting harm on transportation targets. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2021)
SB 1583 – Provides that it is lawful to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft if the image is captured by the Railroad Commission of Texas or an agent or employee of the Commission in connection with the inspection an oil, gas, or pipeline facility, or a surface mining site. View the Bill
HB 3403 – Requires the Texas Department of Transportation to establish a system authorizing and regulating the operation of unmanned aircraft in avigation easements. View the Bill
HB 3251 – Allows law enforcement to capture an image with a drone for the purpose of documenting a crime scene where an offense, including misdemeanors or offenses punishable by a fine only, has been committed. Specifies ways in which law enforcement may lawfully use a drone to capture an image of private property. View the Bill
HB 2957 – Provides that it is lawful to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in the state of Texas if the image is captured by the Railroad Commission of Texas of an agent, servant, or employee of the commission in connection with the inspection and examination of: i) an oil or gas site or facility, including a well, tank, or disposal injection site; ii) a pipeline facility; or iii) a surface mining site. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2019)
HB 2512 – Makes it unlawful to capture images using an unmanned aircraft in certain circumstances. View the Bill
HB 2912 – Related to certain images captured by an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
HB 3164 – Relating to certain images captured by an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
HB 3494 – Relating to the prosecution of the offenses of operation of an unmanned aircraft over facilities and to the regulation of unmanned aircraft by certain political subdivisions. View the Bill
HB 4084 – Relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft over certain facilities. View the Bill
HB 4448 – Relating to use of an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
SB 59 – Makes it lawful to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas if captured for the purpose of delivering consumer goods that were ordered through an internet website or mobile application and the operator of the unmanned aircraft is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct operations within the airspace from which the image is captured. View the Bill
SB 1701 – Relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft over certain facilities. View the Bill
SB 1996 – Relating to investigating and prosecuting the criminal offense of operating an unmanned aircraft over or near certain facilities. View the Bill
SB 2034 – Relating to certain images captured by an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
SB 2299 – Relating to the prosecution of the offense of operation of an unmanned aircraft over certain facilities. View the Bill
Legislation no longer under consideration (2019)
HB 3082 – Relating to investigating and prosecuting the criminal offense of operating an unmanned aircraft over or near certain facilities. View the Bill
Previously Introduced Legislation (2017)
HB 106 – Would make it unlawful to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft of real property or a person on real property that is within 25 miles of the United States border. View the Bill
HB 376 – Related to the prosecution of certain criminal offenses involving disabling, damaging, or destroying an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
HB 378 – Repeals sections 423.003 (c) and 423.004 (d) and (e), relating to the prosecution of certain criminal offenses relating to capturing of images by unmanned aircraft and disposition of those images. View the Bill
HB 638 – A bill relating to the prosecution of the offense of operation of unmanned aircraft over correctional facility or critical infrastructure facility. View the Bill
HB 3238 – Relating to the regulation of unmanned aircrafts by political subdivisions View the Bill
SB 395 – Relating to the prosecution of the offense of operation of an unmanned aircraft over a correctional facility or critical infrastructure facility. View the Bill
SB 523 – Relating to the prosecution of the offense of unmanned aircraft over correctional facility or critical infrastructure facility. View the Bill
SB 838 – Relating to certain images captured by an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
SB 839 – Relating to certain images captured by an unmanned aircraft. View the Bill
SB 901 – Relating to the prosecution of the offense of operation of unmanned aircraft over correctional facility or critical infrastructure facility. View the Bill
SB 1319 – Relating to the prosecution of the offense of operation of an unmanned aircraft over certain facilities. View the Bill