Bill
S 2454
Establishes state rules and criminal penalties for drone operation to protect critical facilities, aircraft, and responders, aligning with FAA rules while adding bans on weaponized
Status: Committed to Rules
Filed: 01/17/2025 (Senate Docket No. 2571) — Presented by Sen. John C. Velis (petitioner also lists Kelly W. Pease)
Location in law: Adds new Section 64 to Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws
Note on metadata: the bill text is a Massachusetts statute regarding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Some supplied metadata (alternative title about campaign reimbursements and a list of U.S. Senate sponsors) appears to be from unrelated legislation — this summary reflects the bill text as filed in the Massachusetts Senate.
Purpose
- Establish statewide rules and criminal penalties governing the operation, equipment, and prohibited uses of unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) to protect public safety, critical facilities, manned aircraft, and emergency response operations.
Key definitions added
- “Unmanned aircraft” and “unmanned aircraft system”: aircraft operated without direct human intervention and the associated components needed for operation.
- “Operate”: pilot, fly, control, direct, or program flight.
- “Critical facility”: specifically enumerated to include (among others) federally defined critical infrastructure, commercial distribution centers, courts, police/sheriff/highway patrol facilities, jails/prisons, federal/state military installations, and hospitals receiving air ambulance services.
Major provisions and prohibitions
- Federal compliance: Operators may not fly in ways prohibited by federal law or FAA regulations. FAA-authorized deviations from federal rules are permissible only if the operator complies with the FAA authorization.
- Enforcement power: Law enforcement observing an FAA violation may order the operator to give true name and address and immediately cease use of the UAS. Refusal to provide true name/address: fine $20–$50 and possible arrest (limited to refusal to identify; other FAA violations do not permit warrantless arrest).
- Weaponization ban: Prohibits equipping or operating a UAS armed with a weapon or capable of firing/releasing a projectile intended to cause serious bodily injury or death.
- Penalty: fine up to $2,000 and/or up to 1 year in a house of correction. Limited exemption for explosive ordnance disposal personnel for disposal uses.
- Interference with manned aircraft/airports: Prohibits operating UAS to interfere with manned aircraft or impede airport operations.
- Penalty: fine up to $1,500 and/or up to 1 year in a house of correction.
- If interference results in damage to a manned aircraft or causes a crash: fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 2.5 years in a house of correction.
- Interference with emergency responders: Prohibits disrupting or impairing activities of law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical services while on duty.
- Surveillance near critical facilities: Prohibits photographing, recording, loitering over or near a critical facility with the purpose of furthering another criminal offense that involves causing or threatening physical harm.
Who is affected
- Drone operators (recreational, commercial, and institutional) operating within Massachusetts airspace.
- Owners/operators of critical facilities, airports, hospitals, and public safety agencies (impacted by enhanced legal protections).
- Law enforcement agencies (enforcement duties and limited investigative powers described).
- Public safety explosive ordnance personnel (narrowly exempted for disposal operations).
Penalties and enforcement
- Monetary fines range from $20–$50 for identification refusals to up to $10,000 for UAS-caused damage/crash of manned aircraft.
- Jail exposure ranges from up to 1 year (many offenses) to up to 2.5 years for the most serious (manned aircraft damage/crash).
- Enforcement is primarily by state and local law enforcement in coordination with federal aviation law.
Procedural timeline (as supplied)
- Filed 01/17/2025 (Senate Docket No. 2571). Referred to Ethics and Internal Governance (1/17/2025) and to Transportation (2/27/2025). Advanced to third reading (4/30/2025). Committed to Rules (6/13/2025). Additional entries indicate readings, committee referrals, and a hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025. (Record contains duplicated and inconsistent date entries.)
Related measures
- SD 2571 (replaces); prior-session related bills: S.2262, S.2394, S.295, S.164, S.150. Companion bill: A.298.
Implications
- Aligns state-level UAS rules with federal aviation regulation while adding criminal prohibitions to protect critical infrastructure, manned aircraft, emergency responders, and restricted facilities.
- Creates clear criminal penalties for armed or reckless drone use, but leaves FAA regulatory authority intact; FAA authorizations override state prohibitions when specifically authorized.
- May affect commercial drone operators (delivery, surveying), hobbyists, public safety operations, and facility security planning.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
