Montana – SB 150(1) and SB 196

Title

AN ACT LIMITING THE USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES; AND PROHIBITING ANY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY WITHIN THE STATE OF MONTANA OWNING OR UTILIZING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES WITH ANTIPERSONNEL DEVICES

Sponsor(s):

Representative Driscoll

Synopsis:

A governmental entity within the state of Montana may not own, utilize, contract for, or otherwise obtain any services from an unmanned aerial vehicle containing an antipersonnel device.

A person commits the offense of unmanned aerial vehicle data collection if a person purposely or knowingly operates an unmanned aerial vehicle in or upon the premises of another for the purpose of acquiring information through the use of a sensing device that is capable of acquiring data from its surroundings, including but not limited to a camera, microphone, thermal detector, chemical detector, radiation gauge, and wireless receiver.

Definition of UAV would include MA

Tracking Site: https://leg.mt.gov/css/bills/default.asp

Status:

2 bills have passed Senate, One bill is a moratorium on drone use, the other provides legal protections for use

Recommended Action

Contact sponsor/leadership with request to include MA exclusion…
“Model Aircraft as defined in the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 [PL 112-95, Sec. 336(c)] are excluded from the provisions of this Bill/Statute”

Continue to monitor

Drone Legislation – Montana