Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB493: Establish the offense of trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle
Status: Signed into law, May 8, 2025
What the bill says
An act creating the offense of criminal trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle; providing exceptions; providing a definition; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT CREATING THE OFFENSE OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS BY UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; PROVIDING A DEFINITION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Criminal trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle -- exceptions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person commits the offense of criminal trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle if the person knowingly causes an unmanned aerial vehicle to fly 200 feet or lower over the property or residence of another person without the authorization of the property owner or resident. (2) A person convicted of the offense of criminal trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle shall be fined $500. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle system: (a) conducted by a unit or agency of the federal government, the state, or a tribal or local government, including any individual conducting an operation pursuant to contract or other agreement entered into with the unit or agency, for the purpose of protecting the public safety, environment, and welfare, including firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency response; (b) by a peace officer acting in accordance with 46-5-109; (c) within the boundaries of an easement with the permission of the owner of the dominant tenement; (d) being used by an employee or contractor of a utility as defined in 69-5-102 or a provider of broadband …
Sponsors
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7) · primary sponsor
- Overstreet, Greg (R, 88)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 72 yea, 27 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 80 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 44 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Do Pass As Amended (March 5, 2025): 45 yea, 5 nay, passed
- AMD-SB0493.001.001 Hertz D/PASS (March 5, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Crimes
Common questions
- What is SB493?
- SB493 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Establish the offense of trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle.
- What does SB493 do?
- In its own words: An act creating the offense of criminal trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle; providing exceptions; providing a definition; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of SB493?
- Signed into law as of May 8, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 8, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB493?
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB493?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1023
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.