---
title: HB 949. Aviation; prohibit launch or intentional landing of unmanned aircraft systems from or on agricultural land
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb949
cite_as: HB 949, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb949
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb949.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb949/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72147
date: 2026-02-19
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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/hb948.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb950.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 319
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb949.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 949
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-12
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
sponsors:
  - Beth Camp
  - Angie O'Steen
  - Charles Cannon
  - Robert Dickey
  - Jaclyn Ford
  - Jutt Howard
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB949/2025
upstream_id: 2071960
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - drone laws
  - agriculture
  - farmland protection
  - aviation regulation
  - property rights
---

# HB 949. Aviation; prohibit launch or intentional landing of unmanned aircraft systems from or on agricultural land

## Text

The House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure Innovation offers the
following substitute to HB 949:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 1 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions regarding aviation, so as to prohibit certain activities over agricultural land
through the operation of unmanned aircraft systems; to provide for penalties; to provide for
definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 1 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions
regarding aviation, is amended by revising Code Section 6-1-4, relating to regulation of the
testing or operation of unmanned aircraft system, preemption, unauthorized operation at
ticketed entertainment event, penalty, and exemptions, as follows:
"6-1-4.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) <ins>'Agricultural land' means any land capable of use in the production of agricultural
crops, timber, livestock or livestock products, poultry or poultry products, milk or dairy
products, or fruit or other horticultural products, but does not include any land zoned by
a local governmental unit for a use other than and nonconforming with agricultural use.
</ins>
<ins>(2) 'Local government unit' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 36-86-3.
(3)</ins> '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.
<ins>(2)(4)(A)</ins> 'Unmanned aircraft system' means:
<del>(A) A</del> <ins>a</ins> powered, aerial vehicle that:
(i) Does not carry a human operator and is operated without the possibility of direct
human intervention from within or on the aircraft;
(ii) Uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift;
(iii) Can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely; and
(iv) Can be expendable or recoverable.; <del>and
</del> (B) Such term shall not include a satellite.
(b) Any ordinance, resolution, regulation, or policy of any <del>county, municipality, or other
political subdivision of this state</del> <ins>local government unit</ins> regulating the testing or operation
of unmanned aircraft systems shall be deemed preempted and shall be null, void, and of no
force and effect; provided, however, that a <del>county, municipality, or other political
subdivision of this state</del> <ins>local government unit</ins> may:
(1) Enforce any ordinance that was adopted on or before April 1, 2017;
(2) Adopt an ordinance that enforces Federal Aviation Administration restrictions; or
(3) Adopt an ordinance that provides for or prohibits the launch or intentional landing
of an unmanned aircraft system from or on its public property except with respect to the
operation of an unmanned aircraft system for commercial purposes.
(c) The state, through agency or departmental rules and regulations, may provide for or
prohibit the launch or intentional landing of an unmanned aircraft system from or on its
public property.
(d)(1) It shall be unlawful to operate an unmanned aircraft system within 400 feet of or
above a ticketed entertainment event.
(2) <del>A person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of the unauthorized operation
of an unmanned aircraft system and shall be punished as for a misdemeanor.
(3) This</del> <ins>Paragraph (1) of this</ins> subsection shall not apply <del>when</del> <ins>to</ins> a person <del>who operates
</del> <ins>operating</ins> an unmanned aircraft system <ins>within 400 feet of or above a ticketed
entertainment event who:
</ins> (A) Has obtained consent by any person with legal authority over <del>a</del> <ins>the</ins> ticketed
entertainment event;
(B) Is authorized by federal regulations to operate an unmanned aircraft system and is
operating such system in a lawful manner and consistent with federal regulations;
(C) Is an employee of the property where the ticketed entertainment event is held and
is conducting official business <ins>within the scope of such employment;
</ins> (D) Is an employee of a water, sewer, electrical, telephone, cable, or other regulated
utility service provider and is conducting official business <ins>within the scope of such
employment;</ins> or
(E) Is an owner of private property who is operating an unmanned aircraft system that
he or she owns above such property, provided that such operation is consistent with
federal regulations and is not used for commercial purposes, to convey or communicate
a message, <del>or</del> to record for purposes of commercial broadcasting or publication, <ins>or to
</ins> monitor, or otherwise interfere in any way with a ticketed entertainment event.
<ins>(e) It shall be unlawful to operate an unmanned aircraft system over agricultural land
where the result of such operation is:
(1) Disturbance of agricultural practices upon the agricultural land;
(2) Application of any substance to soil, plant life, or water upon the agricultural land
without the express consent of any owner or lessee of such agricultural land; or
(3) Harassment of livestock.
</ins>
<ins>(f) A person that knowingly violates subsection (d) or (e) of this Code section shall be
guilty of the unauthorized operation of an unmanned aircraft system and shall be punished
as for a misdemeanor."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## 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.

A Georgia House bill would make it illegal to fly a drone over farmland in ways that disrupt farm work, spray chemicals without permission, or harass livestock, with violations punished as a misdemeanor.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia law already limits local governments from regulating drones and bars flying drones near ticketed concerts or sporting events without permission. This bill rewrites that law, O.C.G.A. section 6-1-4, to add new protections for farmland.

It defines 'agricultural land' as land used for growing crops, timber, livestock, poultry, dairy, or other farm products, as long as it is not zoned for a different use. It then makes it illegal to operate a drone over that land if doing so disturbs farming activity, applies any substance like a chemical spray to the soil, plants, or water without the landowner's or lessee's consent, or harasses livestock. It also clarifies that only 'local government units' as defined elsewhere in Georgia law can adopt certain drone ordinances. Anyone who knowingly violates the farmland rules or the existing ticketed-event drone rule would be guilty of a misdemeanor, the same penalty structure as before but now covering both situations.

### What it does

- Creates a new legal definition of 'agricultural land' covering land used for crops, timber, livestock, poultry, dairy, or horticultural products, excluding land zoned for other uses.
- Makes it illegal to fly a drone over farmland if it disturbs farming activity, sprays or applies substances without the landowner's consent, or harasses livestock.
- Combines the penalty for this new farmland rule with the existing ticketed-event drone rule, making a knowing violation of either a misdemeanor.
- Narrows local government drone ordinances to those adopted by a defined 'local government unit,' referencing an existing Georgia code definition.
- Reorganizes and slightly rewords the existing exemptions for who can legally fly drones near ticketed entertainment events, such as property employees and utility workers.

### Who it affects

Farmers and landowners whose property qualifies as agricultural land, drone operators and hobbyists, commercial drone pilots, local governments that regulate drone use, and property owners or employees affected by the existing ticketed entertainment event drone rules.

### Why it matters

Farmers would gain a specific legal tool against drones that interfere with their crops, livestock, or spraying operations, something current Georgia law does not directly address. Drone operators would face criminal liability for flying over farmland in ways that cause these specific harms, even if they did not intend trespass.

### Key provisions

- Adds a definition of 'agricultural land' to O.C.G.A. section 6-1-4, excluding land zoned for nonagricultural, nonconforming uses.
- Adds a definition of 'local government unit' by cross-reference to O.C.G.A. section 36-86-3, replacing prior references to counties, municipalities, or political subdivisions.
- New subsection (e) makes it unlawful to operate a drone over agricultural land if it disturbs farming, applies substances without consent, or harasses livestock.
- New subsection (f) sets the penalty: anyone who knowingly violates the ticketed-event rule in subsection (d) or the new farmland rule in subsection (e) is guilty of a misdemeanor.
- Retains and reworded existing exemptions letting property employees, utility workers, consenting parties, federally authorized operators, and private property owners fly drones under certain conditions.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2026-01-12)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (2026-02-19)
- Sponsors: Beth Camp, Angie O'Steen, Charles Cannon, Robert Dickey, Jaclyn Ford, Jutt Howard
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72147

> The history, votes, and amendments (319 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb949.md?full=1