New Hampshire HB 1291: criminalizing the use of small unmanned aircraft systems for the purposes of flying over critical infrastructure and events without authorization.

Bill Text

HB 1291-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2816

 09/08

HOUSE BILL 1291-FN

AN ACT criminalizing the use of small unmanned aircraft systems for the purposes of flying over critical infrastructure and events without authorization.

SPONSORS: Rep. Wood, Merr. 13; Rep. Tenczar, Hills. 1; Rep. Post, Hills. 42; Rep. Panek, Hills. 1; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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ANALYSIS

 This bill adds additional prohibited uses to the offense of unlawful operation or use of small unmanned aircraft system.

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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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2816

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT criminalizing the use of small unmanned aircraft systems for the purposes of flying over critical infrastructure and events without authorization.

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

 1 New Paragraphs; Unlawful Operation or Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft System. Amend RSA 644:23 by inserting after paragraph VII the following new paragraphs:

 VIII. A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor when the person knowingly uses a small unmanned aircraft system to operate over any sporting event, concert, automobile race, festival, or other event where people are gathered, without prior authorization. 

 IX. A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor when the person knowingly uses a small unmanned aircraft system to operate over any critical infrastructure, without prior authorization. For purposes of the this paragraph, "critical infrastructure" means petroleum refineries, petroleum storage facilities, chemical storage facilities, chemical manufacturing facilities, fuel storage facilities, electric substations, power plants, electric generation facilities, military facilities, commercial port and harbor facilities, rail yard facilities, drinking water treatment or storage facilities, government buildings, and public safety buildings or facilities.

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

 LBA

 26-2816

 11/7/25

HB 1291-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT criminalizing the use of small unmanned aircraft systems for the purposes of flying over critical infrastructure and events without authorization.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Revenue Fund

None

 Expenditures*

Indeterminable

 Funding Source

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Funding Source

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 County Expenditures

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association