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HB0251 • 2025
Trespass by drone.
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of trespass by drone; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.
Crime
Did Not Pass
The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.
- Sponsor
- Representative Neiman
- Last action
- 2025-02-10
- Official status
- inactive
- Effective date
- 3/1/2025
Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not provide specific details about the bill's summary or digest text beyond its introduction and committee actions.
Trespass by Drone Law
The bill proposes creating a new law that makes it illegal to fly a drone below 200 feet over private property without permission, and sets penalties for this offense.
What This Bill Does
- Creates the crime of trespassing with a drone if flown at an altitude of 200 feet or lower over private land or residence without authorization from the owner or resident.
- Defines a 'drone' as an unmanned aircraft weighing up to 55 pounds on takeoff, including any attachments.
- Makes criminal trespass by drone punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both.
Who It Names or Affects
- People who own private land or homes
- Individuals and businesses that use drones
Terms To Know
- Drone
- An unmanned aircraft weighing up to 55 pounds on takeoff, including any attachments.
- Criminal Trespass by Drone
- The act of flying a drone at an altitude of 200 feet or lower over private property without permission from the owner or resident.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill did not pass and was not considered for further action.
- Since it did not pass, there is no effective date.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
HB0251HW001
Committee of the Whole • Representative Davis
Filed
Plain English: The amendment adds a condition to the bill that allows people to use drones legally for business reasons.
- Adds an exception to the proposed law, permitting drone usage for legitimate business purposes.
- The exact definition of 'legitimate business purposes' is not specified in this amendment and may need further clarification.
Bill History
-
2025-02-10
House
H COW:H Did not consider for COW
-
2025-02-06
House
H Placed on General File
-
2025-02-06
House
H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0
-
2025-01-30
House
H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture
-
2025-01-20
House
H Received for Introduction
-
2025-01-20
LSO
Bill Number Assigned
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
25LSO-0606
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0606
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0251
Trespass by drone.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Neiman, Allemand, Angelos, Connolly, Davis, Eklund and Schmid and Senator(s) Crago, Driskill, Ide and Kolb
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of trespass by drone; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 6
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3
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308 is created to read:
6
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3
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308.
Criminal trespass by drone; penalties.
(a)
Except as otherwise permitted by law, a person is guilty of criminal trespass by drone if the person causes a drone to operate at an altitude of two hundred (200) feet or lower over the private land or residence of another person without authorization by the landowner or resident or pursuant to a court order. For purposes of this section, "drone" means an unmanned aircraft weighing not more than fifty
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five (55) pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the unmanned aircraft.
(b)
Criminal trespass by drone is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.
Section 2
.
This act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(END)
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HB0251