SB1160

Official summary

SB1160 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet Assigned to PS������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� AS PASSED BY HOUSE ARIZONA STATE SENATE Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session AMENDED #2 FACT SHEET FOR s.b. 1160 drones; entertainment districts; prohibition ( NOW: drones; entertainment events; prohibition ) Purpose Prohibits a person from intentionally operating a civil unmanned aircraft within 5,280 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event, except as specified, and classifies a violation as a class 1 misdemeanor. Exempts a city, town, county or state employee acting in the employee's official capacity from the state preemption on the unlawful operation of an unmanned aircraft. Background A person may not operate a civil unmanned aircraft or a model aircraft if the operation: 1) is prohibited by a federal law or regulation that governs aeronautics, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations; or 2) interferes with a law enforcement, firefighter or emergency services operation. A person may not operate or use an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system to intentionally photograph or loiter over or near a critical facility in the furtherance of any criminal offense. A city or town may not enact or adopt any ordinance, policy or rule that relates to the ownership or operation of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system or otherwise engage in the regulation of the ownership or operation of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system ( A.R.S. � 13-3729 ). The FAA prohibits a person from flying drones in and around stadiums beginning one hour before and ending one hour after the scheduled time of any normal-season or post-season event for: 1) Major League Baseball; 2) the National Football League; 3) National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One Football games; and 4) racing events held by Indy Car, Champ Series and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( FAA ). An unmanned aircraft is an aircraft, including an aircraft commonly known as a drone, that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft. A civil unmanned aircraft is an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system that is operated by a person for any purpose other than strictly for hobby or recreational purposes, including commercial purposes, such as aerial mapping or geospatial imaging, or in furtherance of or incidental to any business or media service or agency ( A.R.S. � 13-3729 ). There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation. Provisions 1. Prohibits a person from intentionally operating a civil unmanned aircraft within 5,280 feet of or 5,280 feet above a ticketed entertainment event. 2. Classifies a violation of the prohibition as a class 1 misdemeanor. 3. Exempts, from the prohibition, a person who: a) obtains written consent from another person with legal authority over the ticketed entertainment event; b) is an employee of the property where the ticketed entertainment event is held or a water, sewer, electric, telecommunications, cable or other public or regulated utility and is conducting official business; or c) is operating the person's own civil unmanned aircraft above the person's own private property in a manner consistent with federal law. 4. Stipulates that a person who operates a civil unmanned aircraft above the person's own private property may not use the aircraft: a) for commercial purposes; b) to convey or communicate a message or to record for the purposes of commercial broadcasting or publication; or c) to monitor or otherwise interfere in any way with the ticketed entertainment event. 5. Exempts, from the state preemption on unlawfully operating model or unmanned aircraft, a city, town, county or state employee who operates an unmanned aircraft, including a public unmanned aircraft, while acting in the employee's official capacity. 6. Defines a ticketed entertainment event as a music, sporting or performing arts event: a) that is held in a location with gated entries or barriers that prevent access to the general public; b) for which an owner, operator or lessee of the property has issued evidence of the right of entry; and c) that is held outdoors, at a venue with a retractable roof or in a facility with a capacity of at least 1,000 attendees. 7. Makes conforming changes. 8. Becomes effective on the general effective date. Amendments Adopted by Committee � Increases, from 400 feet to 5,280 feet, the distance from a ticketed entertainment event in which a person is prohibited from operating a civil unmanned aircraft. Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole � Specifies that a person must obtain written consent, rather than consent, from another person with legal authority over the ticketed entertainment event in order to be exempt from the prohibition. Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives 1. Exempts a city, town, county or state employee acting in the employee's official capacity from the state preemption on the unlawful operation of a model or unmanned aircraft. 2. Specifies that the prohibition applies to a person who intentionally operates a drone as outlined. 3. Modifies the definition of a ticketed entertainment event to: a) include an event for which an owner, operator or lessee of the property has issued evidence of the right of entry, rather than a revocable license required for attendance at the event; and b) add that the event is held outdoors, at a venue with a retractable roof or in a facility with a capacity of at least 1,000 attendees. 4. Makes technical and conforming changes. Senate Action ��������������������������������������������������������� House Action PS������������������� 1/28/26����� DPA���� 7-0-0���������������� JUD���������������� 3/4/26������� DP������ 6-1-0-2 3 rd Read��������� 2/23/26������������������� 24-3-3�������������� 3 rd Read��������� 4/14/26����������������� 32-23-5 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 rd Read*������� 6/11/26����������������� 41-16-3 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� * On reconsideration Prepared by Senate Research June 11, 2026 KJA/SDR/hk