Generally revise laws related to the unlawful use of aircraft for hunting

2025 Regular Session

Updates laws on unlawful use of aircraft in hunting, tightening definitions, prohibitions, penalties, and enforcement for hunters, aircraft operators, and wildlife agencies.

(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

#fishandwildlife

Overview

LC 3165 is a proposed bill within the Fish and Wildlife subject area, titled “Generally revise laws related to the unlawful use of aircraft for hunting.” The bill is currently categorized as a draft (LC) and has progressed through drafting stages but has not yet been enacted. The introductory information indicates the bill was introduced on December 13, 2024, and is being prepared for delivery.

Purpose and intent

The bill’s title indicates its general aim is to revise existing statutes that govern the unlawful use of aircraft in hunting activities.

At this stage, the specific textual provisions, definitions, and compliance details are not provided in the summary. The intended outcome appears to be updating, consolidating, or tightening rules around using aircraft for hunting, potentially improving enforcement and aligning with current wildlife management objectives.

Key provisions (as yet unavailable)

The exact changes to current law are not included in the provided materials. Typical elements in a reform of this nature could include:

Updated definitions related to “unlawful use” of aircraft in hunting.
Clarified prohibited actions and circumstances (e.g., flight patterns, proximity to wildlife, or timing).
Revised penalties or enforcement mechanisms.
Clarifications of roles for law enforcement, wildlife agencies, and territorial jurisdictions.
Possible exemptions or special-use provisions (if any).

Specific dollar amounts, dates, or percentage changes are not present in the provided content.

Who would be affected

Hunters and hunting operations that may use or operate aircraft as part of hunting activities.

Operators of aircraft (commercial, private, or government) where wildlife-hunting interactions could be regulated.

Law enforcement and wildlife agencies responsible for enforcing hunting regulations.

General public and stakeholders involved in wildlife management, hunting regulation, and aviation activities overlapping with hunting.

Timeline and procedural status

Introduced: December 13, 2024

Status: (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

Legislative actions (progression toward delivery and final drafting):

2024-12-13: Drafter Assigned
2025-01-07: Draft in Edit; Draft in Legal Review
2025-01-07: Draft in Input/Proofing
2025-01-10: Draft in Input/Proofing
2025-01-11: Draft in Final Drafter Review
2025-01-12: Draft in Assembly
2025-01-14: Draft Ready for Delivery

Next steps for readers

To understand the full impact, the full draft text will need to be released. Once available, readers should review:

The precise definitions added or revised (e.g., what constitutes unlawful use of aircraft in hunting).
The specific prohibitions and any exceptions.
The penalties and enforcement mechanisms (fines, license suspensions, etc.).
Effective dates and any transition provisions.

This summary reflects only information provided in the bill overview and proposed drafting timeline.

Bill