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SB49 • 2026

(New Title) relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

(New Title) relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Regina Birdsell (R), Terry Roy (R)
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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.

(New Title) relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

(New Title) relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

What This Bill Does

  • (New Title) relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

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.

Amendments

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

Amendment #2025-3024h : AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 48

Plain English: Amendment #2025-3024h : AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 48 1

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-23 S

    Signed by the Governor on 03/20/2026; Chapter 6; Effective 05/19/2026

  2. 2026-03-11 H

    Enrolled 03/11/2026 HJ 7

  3. 2026-03-11 S

    Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 03/05/2026); SJ 6

  4. 2026-02-05 S

    Special Order to the Present Time, Without Objection, MA; 02/05/2026; SJ 3

  5. 2026-02-05 S

    Sen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3

  6. 2026-01-07 H

    Amendment #2025-3024h : AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 48

  7. 2026-01-07 H

    Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-3024h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 48

  8. 2025-11-13 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-3024h (NT) 10/22/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 51 P. 7

  9. 2025-10-03 H

    ==RESCHEDULED== Full Committee Work Session: 10/22/2025 10:00 am GP 230

  10. 2025-10-03 H

    ==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session: 10/22/2025 01:00 pm GP 230

  11. 2025-04-24 H

    Retained in Committee

  12. 2025-04-14 H

    ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204

  13. 2025-04-14 H

    ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/25/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204

  14. 2025-04-01 H

    Public Hearing: 04/09/2025 02:00 pm LOB 202-204

  15. 2025-03-28 H

    Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 11 P. 110

  16. 2025-03-13 S

    Committee Amendment #2025-0754s , AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7

  17. 2025-03-13 S

    Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0754s , MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7

  18. 2025-03-07 S

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0754s , 03/13/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 12

  19. 2025-01-23 S

    Hearing: 01/28/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 7

  20. 2025-01-10 S

    Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3

Official Summary Text

(New Title) relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
CHAPTER 6
SB 49-FN - FINAL VERSION

03/13/2025 0754s
7Jan2026... 3024h
2026 SESSION
25-0921
09/11

SENATE BILL
49-FN

AN ACT
relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies the version of the federal regulation with which operators of small unmanned aircraft systems must comply.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/13/2025 0754s
7Jan2026... 3024h 25-0921
09/11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

6:1 Unlawful Operation or Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft System. Amend RSA 644:23, II to read as follows:
II. A person is guilty of a violation for a first offense, and a misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense, if such person operates a small unmanned aircraft system in violation of laws and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), [
including but not limited to
]
specifically
14 C.F.R. part 107
, as of July 24, 2025
.

6:2 Unlawful Operation or Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft System. Amend RSA 644:23, III(a) to read as follows:
(a) Comply with FAA Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Rule, 14 C.F.R. part 107
, as of July 24, 2025
;

6:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: March 20, 2026
Effective Date: May 19, 2026