Recreational Drone Empowerment Act
The Recreational Drone Empowerment Act clarifies that recreational drone operators may fly in specific controlled airspace without needing additional permission. It amends federal aviation law to explicitly include Class E airspace above uncontrolled Class G airspace and Class E airspace extensions around airports (such as near airports with Class B, C, D, or E surface areas). This change directly affects hobbyist drone users by removing ambiguity about where they can legally operate their devices. The bill makes existing rules clearer but does not alter overall flight restrictions or create new requirements.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Dec 4, 2025
Last action Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced in House
→
Engrossed in House
·
1 edit
·
Mar 24, 2026
MINOR
The changes between the Introduced and Engrossed versions of HR 6460 (Recreational Drone Empowerment Act) are purely formatting in nature. A blank line was added after 'is amended' and minor spacing was adjusted around the section heading. No substantive policy language was altered.
TECHNICAL
A blank line was inserted after 'is amended' and minor spacing was adjusted around the section 2 heading. No changes to the actual policy text regarding Class E airspace for recreational drone operations.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-549.
lower
Dec 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Dec 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee on Aviation Discharged
lower
Dec 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
lower
Dec 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
lower
Dec 4, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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