An Act regulating drones

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Marcus Vaughn

Massachusetts would ban Chinese state-owned companies from selling or distributing drones in the state, to tighten supply-chain security for buyers and manufacturers.

Overview

This proposed Massachusetts bill would regulate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, by adding new definitions and a prohibition on sales or distribution by Chinese state-owned companies within the Commonwealth. The provisions emphasize national security concerns regarding drone supply chains and set a weight threshold for covered drones.

Key Provisions

New definitions (Section 39H):

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / drone: A powered aerial vehicle that:
does not carry a human operator and cannot be directly controlled by a person on the aircraft,
uses aerodynamic lift to fly,
can operate autonomously or be piloted remotely,
may be expendable or recoverable,
weighs less than 55 pounds.
Chinese state-owned company: Any corporation, business, partnership, LLC, or other entity that is owned fully or in part by, or affiliated with, the Government of China.

Prohibition on sale/distribution by Chinese state-owned companies (Section 39I):

Chinese state-owned companies shall not be authorized to sell or distribute UAVs or drones in the Commonwealth.

Substantive Changes

Adds new sections to Chapter 90 of the General Laws (as amended) to formalize drone definitions and establish a targeted manufacturing/supply-chain prohibition.

The text provided does not specify penalties, enforcement mechanisms, regulatory bodies, or carve-outs/exceptions. There is no mention of transitional periods or compliance timelines within the excerpt.

Who/What Would Be Affected

Drone manufacturers and distributors operating in Massachusetts, specifically those that are Chinese state-owned or affiliated.

Massachusetts buyers and users of drones (businesses, institutions, and individuals) who would otherwise acquire drones from Chinese state-owned entities.

State and local authorities tasked with enforcement (though enforcement details are not described in the excerpt).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Bill number and session: House Docket No. 3061, titled “An Act regulating drones.” Part of the 2025-2026 General Court session (One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court).

Status: The provided material lists “Introduced: November 29, 2025,” but the bill text notes a filing date of January 16, 2025. The status field in the provided information is not specified.

Next steps: As a proposed bill, it would typically proceed to committee review, potential amendments, floor consideration, and, if passed, enactment pending signature or veto by the Governor. Specific timelines would follow standard Massachusetts legislative procedures.

Plain-Language Takeaway

If enacted, HD 3061 would formalize a definition of drones for regulatory purposes and bar Chinese state-owned companies from selling or distributing UAVs in Massachusetts. The bill focuses on supply-chain security and national-origin considerations but does not detail penalties or enforcement methods in the provided text.

Bill