AB-1749 • 2026

Interfering with wildfire suppression with drone.

Crime Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Dixon
Last action: 2026-06-10
Official status: Referred to Coms. on E.M. and JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Interfering with wildfire suppression with drone.

AB 1749, as amended, Dixon.

What This Bill Does

AB 1749, as amended, Dixon.
Interfering with wildfire suppression with drone.
Existing law makes it a crime for a person to operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of an emergency for the purpose of viewing the scene or emergency or military personnel, and thereby impede the emergency or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency.
Existing law excuses a local public entity or public employee from liability for damage to an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system, if the damage was caused while the local public entity or public employee of a local public entity was providing, and the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system was interfering with, the operation, support, or enabling of any emergency service, as specified.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-06-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E.M. and JUD.
2026-05-28 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-04-29 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-03 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 23). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-03 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E.M and JUD.
2026-02-10 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.
2026-02-09 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1749, as amended, Dixon.
Interfering with wildfire suppression with drone.
Existing law makes it a crime for a person to operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of an emergency for the purpose of viewing the scene or emergency or military personnel, and thereby impede the emergency or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law excuses a local public entity or public employee from liability for damage to an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system, if the damage was caused while the local public entity or public employee of a local public entity was providing, and the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system was interfering with, the operation, support, or enabling of any emergency service, as specified. Existing law makes everyone responsible for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their
property or person, as provided.
This bill would prohibit a person from operating or using an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone to knowingly or recklessly interfere with a wildfire suppression or law enforcement or emergency response efforts related to a wildfire
suppression, except as provided.
suppression.
The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a county counsel or city attorney to bring civil action to enforce the prohibition and authorize a prevailing plaintiff to recover civil penalties, injunctive relief, or reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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