HB 261 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

CRIME: Provides relative to unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 261 amends criminal code provisions related to the unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones). It makes technical changes to section references (updating "(F)" to "(G)") and clarifies that certain prohibitions apply beyond limited circumstances by removing the word "only" from one provision. The bill directly affects individuals who operate drones in ways that violate these amended criminal code sections. These changes are procedural updates to existing law, not new policy. The bill passed committee and advanced to third reading in the 2025 legislative session.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Apr 1, 2025 Signed Jun 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB261 Original → HB261 Act · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was expanded from a single sponsor to a bipartisan group of representatives and updated to create a specific new crime for flying drones at parades. It also added a new section detailing penalties, forfeiture of the drone, and specific exemptions for authorized film production.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from general unlawful drone use to include a specific prohibition against unauthorized drone flights at parades.

ELIGIBILITY

Added multiple co-sponsors to the bill, indicating broader legislative support.

SCOPE

Updated the bill's purpose to explicitly include creating a new crime for unlawful drone use at parades.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new offense with specific penalties including fines up to $5,000, imprisonment up to one year, and mandatory forfeiture of the drone.

Created an exemption for drones used in authorized motion picture or television productions.

DEFINITION

Defined 'parade' and 'parade route' to clarify exactly which events are covered by the new prohibition.

ENFORCEMENT

Mandated that law enforcement post notices of 'Drone No Fly Zones' along parade routes.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 2, 2025 · House May 13, 2025

How they voted

37–0

Passed

Total votes 37

Jun 2, 2025

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican26

26 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 39 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 29, 2025

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

May 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 100, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (9-0).

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

lower

1 primary · 20 co-sponsors