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HB274 • 2026

Department of Corrections; mitigation of unmanned aircraft systems authorized, exemptions on prohibition further provided for

Department of Corrections; mitigation of unmanned aircraft systems authorized, exemptions on prohibition further provided for

Crime Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Simpson
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
2026-06-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text authorizes actions against drones operating in violation of the relevant legal article but does not explicitly define that article's specific distance restrictions within this document.

Allowing Alabama Corrections to Stop Illegal Drones

This law lets the Department of Corrections use specific methods like jamming or capturing drones that break rules near prisons.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new section, Section 13A-7-94.1, to state laws about crimes and offenses.
  • Allows corrections officials to take reasonable and necessary actions against unmanned aircraft systems operating in violation of the law.
  • Permits specific actions such as signal jamming (if allowed by federal rules), hacking, physical capture, or other ways to stop the drones.
  • Keeps existing legal protections for corrections staff when they take these actions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Alabama Department of Corrections and its employees.
  • People who fly unmanned aircraft systems in violation of laws near correctional facilities.

Terms To Know

Unmanned aircraft system
A flying vehicle that does not have a human pilot on board, often called a drone.
Jamming
Blocking the radio signals used to control or guide a flying device.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Signal jamming is only allowed if it follows federal laws and rules, such as those from the Federal Communications Commission.
  • The law does not list specific distances where these rules apply; it refers to violations of 'this article' in existing state code.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

XD5WW77-1

R 294

Adopted

Plain English: This amendment gives the Alabama Department of Corrections legal permission to stop drones flying over prisons by using methods like jamming signals, hacking, or physically catching them.

  • It adds a new law that allows prison officials to take action against unauthorized drones.
  • Officials can use signal jammers if it follows federal rules from the Federal Communications Commission.
  • Prison staff are allowed to hack into drone systems or try to physically capture them in mid-air.
  • The amendment lets officials use any other reasonable method needed to disable, intercept, or stop a drone.
  • Any action taken must still follow federal laws and regulations regarding drones and communications.
  • This new law does not change existing legal protections for prison staff if they get sued while doing their job.
  • The specific details of how 'hacking' or other measures are carried out are not described in this text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 House

    Enacted

  2. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 638 (Yeas 30, Nays 0)

  3. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 29, Nays 0)

  4. 2026-02-26 House

    Delivered to Governor

  5. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Signature Requested

  6. 2026-02-26 House

    Enrolled

  7. 2026-02-26 House

    Ready to Enroll

  8. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  9. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  10. 2026-02-05 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 295 (Yeas 104, Nays 0)

  11. 2026-02-05 House

    Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 294 (Yeas 101, Nays 0)

  12. 2026-02-05 House

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 96, Nays 0)

  13. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  14. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety

  15. 2026-02-05 House

    Engrossed

  16. 2026-02-05 House

    Public Safety and Homeland Security Engrossed Substitute Offered

  17. 2026-01-29 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  18. 2026-01-28 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  19. 2026-01-15 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  20. 2026-01-15 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Official Summary Text

This act adds Section 13A-7-94.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the Department of Corrections to take reasonable and necessary measures against unmanned aircraft systems operating unlawfully near corrections facilities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB274 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB274
XD5WW77-3
By Representative Simpson
RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
First Read: 15-Jan-26
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HB274 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 15-Jan-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to crimes and offenses; to add Section
13A-7-94.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to authorize the
Department of Corrections to take certain actions regarding
unmanned aircraft systems.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 13A-7-94.1 is added to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
§13A-7-94.1
(a) The Department of Corrections may take reasonable
and necessary measures against an unmanned aircraft system
operating in violation of this article, including, but not
limited to, all of the following measures:
(1) Jamming, to the extent consistent with federal law
and regulations, including those of the Federal Communications
Commission.
(2) Hacking.
(3) Physical capture.
(4) Any other reasonable mitigation measure undertaken
to neutralize, intercept, disable, or disrupt an unmanned
aircraft system.
(b) This section shall not be construed to eliminate,
alter, or otherwise modify any other immunity or defense
available to the Department of Corrections or its officers,
employees, or agents established by law.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on June 1,
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HB274 Enrolled
Page 2
Section 2. This act shall become effective on June 1,
2026.29
HB274 Enrolled
Page 3
2026.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House as amended, 05-Feb-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 26-Feb-26 Passed
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