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HB 2147

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the Class C misdemeanor offense of knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over the grounds of a school. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Renea Jones

Tennessee bill creates Class C misdemeanor for knowingly flying drones over school grounds, establishing criminal penalties for unauthorized unmanned aircraft near campuses.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 868
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Bill Summary · HB 2147

Legislative bill overview

HB 2147 creates a new Class C misdemeanor offense in Tennessee for knowingly operating unmanned aircraft (drones) over school grounds. The bill amends both the state's criminal code (Title 39) and motor vehicle/aviation regulations (Title 49) to establish this prohibition and its enforcement mechanisms.

Why is this important

Schools have expressed concerns about drone activity near campuses, citing safety risks, privacy violations, and potential security threats. This bill directly addresses those concerns by establishing a legal deterrent and giving law enforcement a specific charge to pursue unauthorized drone operations near schools, which currently may only fall under vague or unrelated statutes.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition clarity: The bill's language "knowingly using" may leave ambiguous whether accidental flyovers, drones blown off course, or flights in adjacent airspace are criminalized, potentially creating enforcement inconsistencies
  • Proportionality debate: Critics may argue a Class C misdemeanor (the lowest felony tier) is either insufficient for genuine security threats or excessive for minor violations like a hobbyist's wayward drone
  • Airspace jurisdiction: Questions exist about whether schools control airspace above their grounds under federal FAA regulations, and whether state law can effectively regulate aircraft operations in that federally-managed space

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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