Louisiana lets police respond to drone threats under approved rules

Police may take reasonable steps to detect, track, disable, or seize covered drones. The authority applies to Louisiana law enforcement agencies and officers responding to drones covered by the law's definition. Police must reasonably suspect illegal, threatening, or other seriously wrongful conduct. Responses must follow federal law and approved response rules, use legally compliant equipment, and be documented. Excluded drones include federal and state surveillance drones, including those flown by contractors, and local police and fire drones. Other exclusions cover certain utility and regulated-business drones used for work on business property. Commercial drones approved by the Federal Aviation Administration are excluded when an owner's employee or agent operates them within their job. The law took effect on June 8, 2026, when the governor signed it.

A joint task force under Louisiana State Police sets response rules, training standards, and procedures for handling drone evidence. The requirements cover police drone responses and the examination or preservation of drones and their data as evidence. Officers who perform or supervise interceptions must complete the required training. Agencies must keep certification records available for task force inspection. Training must cover safety, privacy, and civil rights. Evidence procedures must follow federal law. Forensic laboratories must be accredited or approved by the task force or authorized federal agencies. Agencies using drone interception authority must submit training and incident summaries to the task force by January 30 each year.

Task force meetings and specified records are exempt from public access rules. The meeting exemptions cover the joint task force and its subcommittees. Records exempt from public disclosure include annual training and incident summaries, approved technology inventories, technical advisories, and most operating policies. The policy-record exemption does not list the separate policies on privacy, civil rights, and constitutional protections. The task force and its subcommittees are also exempt from the state's Administrative Procedure Act, which governs agency rulemaking and other procedures.

Police acting in good faith and substantially following the law are presumed to be acting within their legal authority. These provisions cover officers and agencies that perform or supervise actions against covered drones. Immunity does not cover gross negligence, meaning a serious failure to use care, willful misconduct, or knowing violations of constitutional or statutory law. People may still seek court relief for unlawful actions or violations of their rights.

Agencies may obtain covered drone-response technology without purchasing oversight from the Office of Technology Services. The exemption covers information technology equipment, related services, and software obtained under this law. Purchases, leases, and rentals must still follow applicable state and federal purchasing laws and regulations. The Office of Technology Services must help carry out the law. The task force must consult that office when developing purchasing and technology standards.