Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 58: Aviation; adoption of local ordinances, resolution, regulations, or policies that restrict the flight of unmanned aircraft systems over mass public gatherings; authorize
Last action April 1, 2025 · Effective Date
House Bill 58 would make it a misdemeanor to fly a drone within 400 feet of or above a ticketed concert, sporting event, or performing arts event in Georgia without permission, with several exceptions.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law already says cities and counties generally cannot pass their own rules regulating drones (called unmanned aircraft systems), leaving that mostly to the state and federal government. This bill adds a new statewide rule instead of leaving the gap open. It creates a new legal term, 'ticketed entertainment event,' meaning a music, sporting, or performing arts event held somewhere with gated entry or barriers where attendance requires a ticket or pass. The bill makes it illegal to fly a drone within 400 feet of or above one of these events without permission, punishable as a misdemeanor. It carves out exceptions for people who get consent from someone with authority over the event, drone operators following federal aviation rules, event or utility employees doing official work, and private property owners flying drones over their own land for noncommercial purposes. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
What the bill does
- Creates a new legal definition for 'ticketed entertainment event,' covering gated music, sports, or performing arts events requiring a ticket for entry.
- Makes it a misdemeanor crime to fly a drone (unmanned aircraft system) within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event without authorization.
- Exempts drone operators who have consent from someone with legal authority over the event.
- Exempts operators following federal aviation rules, event staff and utility employees doing official business, and private property owners flying noncommercial drones over their own land.
- Leaves in place the existing statewide rule that blocks most local drone ordinances, with the same limited exceptions as before.
Who it affects
Drone hobbyists and commercial drone operators, event venues and organizers hosting ticketed concerts, sporting events, or performing arts shows, utility company employees who use drones for work, and private property owners who fly drones over their own land.
Why it matters
Concertgoers and event organizers would gain a legal tool against drones hovering over crowds, addressing safety and privacy concerns at large gatherings. Drone operators, including hobbyists and businesses like photographers or utility inspectors, would need to understand the new 400-foot restriction and its exceptions to avoid a misdemeanor charge.
Key provisions
- Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4 to add a definition of 'ticketed entertainment event' as a gated music, sports, or performing arts event requiring a ticket for entry.
- Section 1 adds new subsection (d)(1) making it unlawful to operate a drone within 400 feet of or above such an event.
- Section 1 adds (d)(2), classifying violations as a misdemeanor.
- Section 1 adds (d)(3) exceptions for consent from event authorities, federally authorized operations, event or utility employees on official business, and private landowners flying noncommercially over their own property.
- Section 1 keeps the existing preemption rule barring most local drone ordinances, while preserving prior exceptions for ordinances adopted before April 1, 2017 and ones enforcing FAA restrictions.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without signature.
From the bill
“It shall be unlawful to operate an unmanned aircraft system within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event.”
“'Ticketed entertainment event' means any music, sporting, or performing arts event held in a location with gated entries or barriers that prevent access to the general public and in which a revocable license that has been issued by an owner, operator, or lessee of such property is required for attendance at such event.”
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 4
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
Show full history (17 actions)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Gary Richardson (R, HD-125)
- Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)
- Brad Thomas (R, HD-21)
- Rob Clifton (R, HD-131)
- Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
- Mark Newton (R, HD-127)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 21, 2025
153 yea, 4 nay (13 not voting, 10 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 21, 2025
53 yea, 2 nay (0 not voting, 1 excused)
- House voteMarch 27, 2025
162 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 14 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2025
12 yea, 41 nay (2 not voting, 1 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2025
54 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 excused)
Topics
- drone regulations
- event safety
- aviation law
- public gatherings
- misdemeanor penalties