Prohibit trespass and unauthorized recording by drones

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 425

2025-2026

Representative Hoops

To
amend section 4561.50 and to enact section 4561.54 of the Revised
Code
to
prohibit trespass and types of unauthorized recording with an
unmanned aerial vehicle system.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 4561.50 be amended and section 4561.54 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
4561.50.
As
used in sections 4561.50 to
4561.53

4561.54

of
the Revised Code:

(A)
"Critical facility" means any of the following:

(1)
A critical infrastructure facility as defined in section 2911.21 of
the Revised Code;

(2)
A commercial distribution center;

(3)
A federal, state, county, or municipal court;

(4)
A police station, sheriff's office, state highway patrol station, or
premises controlled by the bureau of criminal identification and
investigation;

(5)
A federal, state, county, or municipal jail or prison or any other
facility in which persons are incarcerated;

(6)
A federal or state military installation or facility;

(7)
A hospital that receives air ambulance services.

(B)
"Unmanned aerial vehicle" means a powered, aerial vehicle
to which all of the following apply:

(1)
The vehicle does not carry a human operator and is operated without
the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the
vehicle;

(2)
The vehicle uses aerodynamic forces to provide lift;

(3)
The vehicle can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely;

(4)
The vehicle is either expendable or recoverable.

"Unmanned
aerial vehicle" is commonly referred to as a drone and does not
include a satellite.

(C)
"Unmanned aerial vehicle system" means an unmanned aerial
vehicle and associated elements, including communication links and
components that control the unmanned aerial vehicle and that are
required for the remote pilot in command to operate the vehicle in
the air space over this state.

(D)
"Park district" means a park district created in accordance
with Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code.

Sec.
4561.54.
(A)
No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly operate an
unmanned aerial vehicle system in the air space above the land or
premises of another.

(B)
No person, without privilege to do so, shall recklessly operate an
unmanned aerial vehicle system in the air space above the land or
premises of another when a notice against unauthorized access to such
land or premises is given through one of the following:

(1)
Actual communication to the person;

(2)
A notice that is posted in a manner reasonably calculated to come to
the attention of potential intruders;

(3)
By fencing or another form of enclosure manifestly designed to
restrict access.

(C)
No person, without privilege to do so, shall negligently continue to
operate an unmanned aerial vehicle system in the air space above the
land or premises of another after being given a direct notification
to leave that air space by the owner or occupant of the property.

(D)
No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly use an
unmanned aerial vehicle system to videotape, film, photograph,
broadcast, stream, capture audio, or otherwise record another person,
in a place where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

(E)
No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly use an
unmanned aerial vehicle system to videotape, film, photograph,
broadcast, stream, capture audio, or otherwise record another
person's private property, including any animals or objects on
another person's private property.

(F)
No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly use an
unmanned aerial vehicle system to deploy any substance, material,
projectile, or object.

(G)
Whoever violates this section is guilty of a fourth degree
misdemeanor.

Section
2.
That
existing section 4561.50 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.