HB527 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Crimes and offenses, criminal surveillance, crime further provided to include operation of unmanned aircraft system in manner to invade reasonable expectation of privacy, possession of unmanned aircraft system, certain persons prohibited from possession or operation under certain conditions, Secs. 13A-11-30, 13A-11-32 am'd.

Summary

HB527 expands privacy crimes to include using drones to invade a person’s privacy and restricts certain people from owning or operating recording-capable drones, with updated penalties and funding considerations.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal to use an unmanned aircraft system to capture or view a person or their private property without consent in a way that intrudes on privacy (including through a window). It also bars individuals subject to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act or those with certain theft or burglary/criminal trespass convictions from operating or possessing such drones, with violations charged as Class C felonies. The existing crime of criminal surveillance remains a Class B misdemeanor. The bill also addresses local funding rules related to local government expenditures, noting exemptions under the state constitution. It defines key terms like unmanned aircraft system, eavesdrop, private place, and surveillance, and sets an effective date about three months after passage.

Who It Affects

• General members of the public who use unmanned aircraft systems; if they use a drone to capture or follow someone in a way that invades privacy, they could be charged with criminal surveillance (Class B misdemeanor).
• Individuals who are subject to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act or who have certain theft, burglary, or criminal trespass convictions; they would be prohibited from operating or possessing recording-capable drones (Class C felony).

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 13A-11-30 and 13A-11-32 to define terms (eavesdrop, private place, surveillance, unmanned aircraft system) and to expand criminal surveillance to include UAS-based privacy invasion.
• Prohibits using an unmanned aircraft system to capture or record images, video, or audio of another person or their private property without consent in a way that invades privacy (including through windows).
• Prohibits certain individuals (sex offenders; those convicted of burglary/criminal trespass or theft) from operating or possessing a UAS equipped to capture such content, with violations classified as Class C felony.
• Maintains criminal surveillance as a Class B misdemeanor; outlines the constitutional funding note regarding local expenditures and the bill’s applicability under Amendment 621 and its exceptions.
• Sets the act to take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s 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