HB36 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Crimes and offenses, criminal trespass, unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure, further provided to include unmanned aircraft systems, Sec. 13A-7-4.3 am'd.

Summary

HB 36 would ban drone surveillance of critical infrastructure (now including pipelines), strengthen penalties for damaging such sites, and clarify funding-related exemptions and effective date.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits operating an unmanned aircraft system over a critical infrastructure to surveil, gather information, or record, unless allowed by specified exceptions. It expands the definition of critical infrastructure to include pipelines. It increases penalties so that unauthorized entry into a critical infrastructure is a Class A misdemeanor, with a Class C felony if the intrusion damages or disrupts the infrastructure. It also notes that the local-funding Amendment 621 exemption applies to this bill and provides an effective date after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• People who might enter or operate near critical infrastructure, who could face new or higher penalties (Class A misdemeanor for unauthorized entry; Class C felony if damage or disruption occurs).
• Drone operators and owners/operators of critical infrastructure, who would face new restrictions on drone use over critical sites and would rely on the listed exemptions (e.g., government entities, owners, emergency services, insurers, or court orders).

Key Provisions

• Critical infrastructure is redefined to include pipelines among other facilities.
• Unmanned aircraft systems (drones) may not surveil, gather information about, or record a critical infrastructure without permission, with specified exceptions.
• Penalties are updated: unauthorized entry is a Class A misdemeanor; if damage or interference occurs during the entry, it becomes a Class C felony.
• Exceptions are specified for drone use by certain entities (federal government, state or subdivision, owner/operator, lease/right-of-way, emergency services, insurers, or compliance with a court order).
• Section 2 clarifies the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one.
• Section 3 sets the act to become effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses