SB306 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Crimes and offenses, criminal surveillance, crime further provided to include the commission of the crime using a unmanned aircraft system, Secs. 13A-11-30, 13A-11-32 am'd.

Summary

SB 306 would outlaw using drones to photograph, video, or audio-record a person in a way that invades their reasonable privacy, making this criminal surveillance a Class B misdemeanor.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds drone-based privacy invasions to the state's criminal surveillance laws. It defines terms like eavesdrop, private place, surveillance, and unmanned aircraft system, and specifies that using a drone to capture or follow someone without consent in a way that invades privacy would be a crime. It targets drone operators and anyone who uses drones to invade another's privacy. It also notes this change in relation to local-funding requirements but says the local-funding rules don’t block it because it creates a new crime.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who want privacy in private places, who would be protected from drone surveillance.
• Drone operators and unmanned aircraft system owners who must avoid capturing or following someone without consent; violations would be Class B misdemeanors.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 13A-11-30 and 13A-11-32 to prohibit using an unmanned aircraft system to capture photographs, images, video, or audio of a person or their private property without consent if it would invade privacy.
• Defines terms: EAVESDROP, PRIVATE PLACE, SURVEILLANCE, and UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.
• Makes criminal surveillance a Class B misdemeanor.
• States that, despite potential local-funding implications, the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 requirements because it creates or amends a crime, and sets the effective date as the first day of the third month following governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses