H 522 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding unmanned aircraft systems near Department of Correction facilities.

H 522 establishes a "drone no-fly zone" around Idaho's correctional facilities, creating a 400-foot restricted airspace above prison grounds. It prohibits drones from operating in this zone for any illegal or dangerous purpose (like spying or smuggling), making violations a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $2,000-$5,000 or up to one year in jail. Correctional facilities and law enforcement may use legal methods - such as jamming or physical capture - to disrupt drones operating "in a nefarious manner" within this zone. The law requires drone operators to know these restrictions, with ignorance not excused as a defense.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 26, 2026 Signed Apr 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text → Engrossment 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify definitions and reduce penalties for violating drone no-fly zones near correctional facilities. The most significant change is the reduction of the fine from $2,000-$5,000 to a maximum of $1,000 and the maximum jail time from one year to six months. Additionally, the bill now explicitly states that drone use in these zones is unlawful and requires that any enforcement measures not conflict with federal law.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a new definition for 'correctional facility' and an explicit statement that drone use in restricted airspace is unlawful, while adding a federal law conflict clause to enforcement actions.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'correctional facility' to clarify that it refers to facilities incarcerating state inmates under the Idaho Department of Correction.

Reordered the definition list to place 'Correctional facility' first, followed by 'Mitigation measures', 'Nefarious manner', and 'Restricted airspace'.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection explicitly stating that using an unmanned aircraft system within the restricted airspace of a correctional facility is unlawful.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the enforcement clause to require that mitigation measures (like jamming) must not conflict with federal law.

Reduced the penalty for unlawful drone use from a fine of $2,000 to $5,000 or one year in prison to a maximum fine of $1,000 and six months in county jail.

Changed the forfeiture of the drone from mandatory ('shall order') to discretionary ('may order').

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

31–4

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 36

Mar 24, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican30

25 Yea 4 Nay 1

83% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President; returned to House

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rules Suspended: Ayes 65 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 5, read in full as required – PASSED - 60-6-4AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Furniss, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Re

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Concurred in Senate Amendments

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Introduced

Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote - Read in full as required) – Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 30-4-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Foreman, Kohl, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - KeyserTitle apvd - to

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

Amendments reported printed

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Introduced

Amendments ordered printed

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Placed in the Committee of the Whole

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 62-7-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman(Zaken), Rubel, Sauter, Scott,

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Committee, Recommend place on General Orders

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Committee

Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing

lower

0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

What changed between versions

How they voted

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