--- title: HB 58. Aviation; adoption of local ordinances, resolution, regulations, or policies that restrict the flight of unmanned aircraft systems over mass public gatherings; authorize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb58 cite_as: HB 58, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb58 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb58.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb58/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69356 date: 2025-04-01 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb57.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb59.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 1878 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb58.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 58 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-04-01 last_action: Effective Date 2025-04-01 sponsors: - Gary Richardson - Rob Leverett - Brad Thomas - Rob Clifton - Clint Crowe - Mark Newton - Matt Brass text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB58/2025 upstream_id: 1919082 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - drone laws - aviation regulation - public safety - event security - local government authority --- # HB 58. Aviation; adoption of local ordinances, resolution, regulations, or policies that restrict the flight of unmanned aircraft systems over mass public gatherings; authorize ## Text 25 HB 58/AP House Bill 58 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Richardson of the 125th, Leverett of the 123rd, Thomas of the 21st, Clifton of the 131st, Crowe of the 118th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 1 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general1 provisions relative to aviation, so as to prohibit certain acti ons by operators of unmanned2 aircraft systems; to provide for a penalty; to provide for appl icability; to provide for3 definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal4 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Chapter 1 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions8 relative to aviation, is amended by revising Code Section 6-1-4, relating to unmanned aircraft9 system defined, preemption for unmanned aircraft systems, and operations, as follows:10 "6-1-4.11 (a)(1) As used in this Code section, the term 'unmanned:12 (1) 'Ticketed entertainment event' means any music, sporting, or performing arts event13 held in a location with gated entries or barriers that prevent access to the general public14 and in which a revocable license that has been issued by an owner, operator, or lessee of15 such property is required for attendance at such event.16 H. B. 58 - 1 - 25 HB 58/AP (2) 'Unmanned aircraft system' means a:17 (A) A powered, aerial vehicle that:18 (A)(i) Does not carry a human operator and is operated without the p ossibility of19 direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft;20 (B)(ii) Uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift;21 (C)(iii) Can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely; and22 (D)(iv) Can be expendable or recoverable.; and23 (2)(B) Such term shall not include a satellite.24 (b) Any ordinance, resolution, regulation, or policy of any county, municipality, or other25 political subdivision of this state regulating the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft26 systems shall be deemed preempted and shall be null, void, and of no force and effect;27 provided, however, that a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state28 may:29 (1) Enforce any ordinance that was adopted on or before April 1, 2017;30 (2) Adopt an ordinance that enforces Federal Aviation Administration restrictions; or31 (3) Adopt an ordinance that provides for or prohibits the laun ch or intentional landing32 of an unmanned aircraft system from or on its public property except with respect to the33 operation of an unmanned aircraft system for commercial purposes.34 (c) The state, through agency or departmental rules and regula tions, may provide for or35 prohibit the launch or intentional landing of an unmanned aircr aft system from or on its36 public property.37 (d)(1) It shall be unlawful to operate an unmanned aircraft system within 400 feet of or38 above a ticketed entertainment event.39 (2) A person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of the unauthorized operation40 of an unmanned aircraft system and shall be punished as for a misdemeanor.41 (3) This subsection shall not appl y when a person who operates an unmanned aircraft42 system:43 H. B. 58 - 2 - 25 HB 58/AP (A) Has obtained consent by any person with legal authority ov er a ticketed44 entertainment event;45 (B) Is authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is46 operating such system in a lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations;47 (C) Is an employee of the property where the ticketed entertainment event is held and48 is conducting official business;49 (D) Is an employee of a water, sewer, electrical, telephone, c able, or other regulated50 utility service provider and is conducting official business; or51 (E) Is an owner of private property who is operating an unmanned aircraft system that52 he or she owns above such property, provided that such operatio n is consistent with53 federal regulations and is not used for commercial purposes, to convey or communicate54 a message, or to record for purposes of commercial broadcasting or publication,55 monitor, or otherwise interfere in any way with a ticketed entertainment event."56 SECTION 2.57 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law58 without such approval.59 SECTION 3.60 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.61 H. B. 58 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. House Bill 58 would make it a misdemeanor to fly a drone within 400 feet of or above a ticketed concert, sporting event, or performance held behind gates or barriers, with several exceptions. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law already limits how cities and counties can regulate drones, mostly preempting local ordinances in favor of state and federal rules. This bill amends that law (O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4) to add a new statewide rule aimed at ticketed events. It defines a 'ticketed entertainment event' as any music, sporting, or performing arts event held at a gated or barricaded location where attendance requires a revocable license, essentially a ticket. Under the bill, operating a drone within 400 feet of or above such an event without permission becomes a misdemeanor. The bill carves out exceptions for people who get consent from someone with authority over the event, drone operators following FAA rules, event or utility employees doing official work, and private landowners flying over their own property as long as it is not commercial and does not interfere with the event. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law. ### What it does - Creates a new statewide misdemeanor for flying an unmanned aircraft system (drone) within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event without permission. - Defines 'ticketed entertainment event' as a music, sporting, or performing arts event at a gated or barricaded venue requiring a ticket or revocable license to attend. - Keeps the existing statewide preemption of most local drone ordinances, while still letting local governments enforce pre-2017 ordinances or ones matching FAA rules. - Adds exceptions to the new no-fly rule for consenting event organizers, FAA-authorized operators, event or utility employees on official business, and private landowners flying non-commercially over their own land. - Sets the law to take effect immediately once the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature. ### Who it affects Drone operators and hobbyists, organizers and venues hosting ticketed concerts, sporting events, or performances, event security staff, utility company employees who use drones for work, and private landowners near such venues who fly their own drones. ### Why it matters Concertgoers, athletes, and performers at ticketed events would gain a legal barrier against drones flying close overhead, and violators could face misdemeanor charges. Drone hobbyists and businesses would need to know the 400-foot boundary and qualify for an exception, such as landowner status or event consent, to fly legally near these gatherings. ### Key provisions - Revises O.C.G.A. § 6-1-4 to add a definition of 'ticketed entertainment event' covering gated or barrier-controlled venues requiring a revocable license for entry. - Retains the existing definition of 'unmanned aircraft system' with minor wording changes, clarifying it excludes satellites. - Keeps the state preemption of local drone ordinances but preserves exceptions for pre-April 2017 ordinances, FAA-consistent ordinances, and rules about launching or landing on public property. - New subsection (d)(1) makes it unlawful to operate a drone within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event. - Subsection (d)(2) classifies violations as a misdemeanor. - Subsection (d)(3) lists five exceptions: consent from event authorities, FAA-authorized lawful operation, event employees on official business, utility employees on official business, and private landowners flying non-commercially over their own property without interfering with the event. - Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-01) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-04-01 (2025-04-01) - Sponsors: Gary Richardson, Rob Leverett, Brad Thomas, Rob Clifton, Clint Crowe, Mark Newton, Matt Brass - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69356 > The history, votes, and amendments (1,878 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb58.md?full=1