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Defense Against Drones Act of 2025
To allow an individual to shoot an unmanned aircraft flying over property owned by the individual under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Allows property owners to shoot down unmanned aircraft (drones) flying within 200 feet of their property using shotguns, subject to applicable state firearm laws.
- Does not require property owners to return shot-down drones to their owners, though they may do so if requested.
- Requires property owners to report drone shooting incidents to the FAA within 60 days if they can identify the drone's registration number.
- Does not preempt or affect state laws regarding tort or criminal liability for shooting down drones.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
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![Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/B001309.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Burchett, Tim (R-TN) [#2]
Actions (3)
- Mar 6, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation. · house
- Mar 6, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Mar 6, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2025
Mr. Burchett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To allow an individual to shoot an unmanned aircraft flying over property owned by the individual under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Defense Against Drones Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY FROM UNMANNED AIRCRAFT.
(a) In General.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “Sec. 44815. Protection of private property from unmanned aircraft
“(a) In General.—Subject to applicable State law relating to the discharge of a firearm, an individual may shoot an unmanned aircraft using a legally obtained shotgun if the individual reasonably believes that such aircraft is flying not more than 200 feet above property owned by the individual.
“(b) Return of Aircraft.—An individual may, but shall not be required to, return an unmanned aircraft shot down under subsection (a) to the owner of such aircraft upon request by such owner.
“(c) Reporting.—Not later than 60 days after an event in which an individual shoots an unmanned aircraft under subsection (a) and is able to identify the registration number of such aircraft, the individual shall report to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration—
“(1) the address at which such event occurred; and
“(2) such registration number.
“(d) Regulations.—The Administrator shall issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.
“(e) Definition of Shotgun.—In this section, the term ‘shotgun’ has the meaning given such term in section 921 of title 18, United States Code.
“(f) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or otherwise have any effect on any State law relating to tort liability or criminal liability for an action taken under subsection (a).”.
(b) Clerical Amendment.—The analysis for chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“44815. Protection of private property from unmanned aircraft.”. <all>
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