HB3426 • 2025

Expands offenses relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with official duties to include firefighting and search and rescue efforts.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Representative Boice, Representative Evans,, Lewis,, Senator Smith DB
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In Senate Committee
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.

Expands offenses relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with official duties to include firefighting and search and rescue efforts.

Digest: The Act says that it is an offense to use a drone to interfere with firefighting and search and rescue activities.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The Act says that it is an offense to use a drone to interfere with firefighting and search and rescue activities.
The Act changes some penalties for use of drones.
(Flesch Readability Score: 67.0). [Digest: The Act says that it is an offense to use a drone to interfere with firefighting and search and rescue activities.
(Flesch Readability Score: 60.6).] Expands offenses relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with official duties to include firefighting and search and rescue efforts.

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

2025-06-27 Senate
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-05-27 Senate
Recommendation: Without recommendation as to passage and be referred to Rules.
2025-05-27 Senate
Referred to Rules by order of the President.
2025-05-21 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-05-19 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-05-05 Senate
Public Hearing held.
2025-04-23 Senate
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
2025-04-23 Senate
Referred to Judiciary.
2025-04-22 House
Third reading. Carried by Boice. Passed. Ayes, 52; Excused, 5--Helm, Nguyen H, Owens, Smith G, Valderrama; Excused for Business of the House, 3--Kropf, Nosse, Wallan.
2025-04-21 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to April 22, 2025 Calendar.
2025-04-17 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to April 21, 2025 Calendar.
2025-04-16 House
Second reading.
2025-04-15 House
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.
2025-04-09 House
Work Session held.
2025-03-04 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-01-30 House
Referred to Judiciary.
2025-01-28 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

<b>Digest: The Act says that it is an offense to use a drone to interfere with firefighting and search and rescue activities. The Act changes some penalties for use of drones. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.0).</b>
[<i>Digest: The Act says that it is an offense to use a drone to interfere with firefighting and search and rescue activities. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6).</i>]
Expands offenses relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with official duties to include firefighting and search and rescue efforts. <b>Modifies penalties for using an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue or emergency response efforts.</b>
Relating to: Relating to unmanned aircraft systems.
Current location: In Senate Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3426
Ordered by the House April 15
Including House Amendments dated April 15
Sponsored by Representative BOICE
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: The Act says that it is an offense to use a drone to interfere with firefighting and
search and rescue activities. The Act changes some penalties for use of drones. (Flesch
Readability Score: 67.0).
[Digest: The Act says that it is an offense to use a drone to interfere with firefighting and search
and rescue activities. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6). ]
Expands offenses relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with official
duties to include firefighting and search and rescue efforts. Modifies penalties for using an un-
manned aircraft system to interfere with law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue
or emergency response efforts.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to unmanned aircraft systems; amending ORS 837.374.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 837.374 is amended to read:
837.374. (1) Except as provided in subsection [ (3)] (5) of this section, a person commits a Class
A violation if the person possesses or controls an unmanned aircraft system and recklessly causes
the unmanned aircraft system to:
(a) Direct a laser at an aircraft while the aircraft is in the air;
(b) Crash into an aircraft while the aircraft is in the air; or
(c) Prevent the takeoff or landing of an aircraft[ ; or ]
[(d) Interfere with a wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response effort ].
(2) A person commits a Class B misdemeanor if the person possesses or controls an un-
manned aircraft system and recklessly causes the unmanned aircraft system to interfere
with a law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue or emergency response effort.
[(2)] (3) Except as provided in subsection [ (3)] (5) of this section, a person commits a Class A
misdemeanor if the person possesses or controls an unmanned aircraft system and knowingly or in-
tentionally causes the unmanned aircraft system to:
(a) Direct a laser at an aircraft while the aircraft is in the air;
(b) Crash into an aircraft while the aircraft is in the air; or
(c) Prevent the takeoff or landing of an aircraft[ ; or ]
[(d) Interfere with a wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response effort ].
(4) A person commits a Class C felony if the person possesses or controls an unmanned
aircraft system and knowingly or intentionally causes the unmanned aircraft system to in-
terfere with a law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue or emergency response effort.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1911
A-Eng. HB 3426
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[(3)] (5) A person commits a Class A felony if the person possesses or controls an unmanned
aircraft system and knowingly, intentionally or recklessly causes death or serious physical injury,
as defined in ORS 161.015, to another person by causing the unmanned aircraft system to:
(a) Direct a laser at an aircraft while the aircraft is in the air;
(b) Crash into an aircraft while the aircraft is in the air; or
(c) Prevent the takeoff or landing of an aircraft.
[(4)] (6) Notwithstanding [ subsection] subsections (1) and (2) of this section, a person commits
a Class A misdemeanor if the person violates subsection (1) or (2) of this section and the person
has one or more convictions under subsection (1) or (2) of this section at the time of the offense.
[(5)] (7) In addition to and not in lieu of any other sentence the court may impose, upon a
person’s second or subsequent conviction under this section, the court shall, at the time of sen-
tencing, declare the unmanned aircraft system used in the offense to be contraband and order that
the unmanned aircraft system be forfeited.
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