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AB 1749

Interfering with wildfire suppression and emergency responses with drone.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Diane Dixon

California bill criminalizes drone operations that interfere with emergency response activities, creating penalties for obstruction of first responder work at incidents and disasters.

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.M.
#interferingwithwildfiresuppressionandemergencyresponseswithdrone
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Bill Summary · AB 1749

Legislative bill overview

AB 1749 proposes to criminalize the operation of drones in a manner that impedes or interferes with emergency response activities in California. The bill would create penalties for individuals who knowingly fly unmanned aircraft systems near active emergency scenes, firefighting operations, or disaster response efforts in ways that obstruct first responders' work.

Why is this important

Emergency responders increasingly face hazards from civilian drones near fire scenes, accidents, and disaster zones, which can delay critical operations and endanger lives. This bill attempts to establish clear legal consequences for such interference, providing law enforcement with enforcement tools while potentially protecting public safety during time-sensitive emergencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional clarity: The bill's language around what constitutes "impeding" or "interfering" with emergency response may be vague, creating uncertainty about which drone operations would actually trigger penalties and potentially leading to overreach.
  • Existing regulations: California and federal law already restrict drone operations near emergency scenes; unclear whether this bill duplicates existing authority or creates new criminal liability with unclear jurisdictional boundaries.
  • Innocent operator protections: Without clear geographic thresholds or notification mechanisms, operators unaware of nearby emergency activity could face criminal penalties, raising due process concerns about intent requirements.

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

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