IdahoIdaho law bars drones inside state prison airspace
Starting July 1, 2026, Idaho correctional staff and law enforcement may disrupt suspected harmful drone activity, and drone use in prison airspace is a misdemeanor.
What it does
Correctional staff or law enforcement may disrupt a drone suspected of illegal, dangerous, or harmful activity inside a state prison's restricted airspace. Federal law must allow the measures.
Drone use in a state prison's restricted airspace is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine, jail time, or both. A court may also order the drone forfeited.
The Department of Correction must post signs on nearby roads warning that the area is a Drone No Fly Zone.
Argument forCorrectional staff and officers could disrupt drones suspected of illegal or harmful activity inside prison boundaries, which may help protect safety.
Argument againstDrone operators could face fines or jail even without harmful intent because the ban covers all drone use in the restricted airspace.
More detail
The Department of Correction or law enforcement may use reasonable measures to disrupt a drone threat. This applies to drones from ground level up to 400 feet above ground, within the boundary of a state correctional facility where prisoners are held. There must be reasonable suspicion that the drone is being used illegally, dangerously, or harmfully. The measures must not conflict with federal law. The Department of Correction and law enforcement are not liable for drone loss or damage caused by these measures. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Drone use in the restricted airspace of a correctional facility is a misdemeanor. The ban covers the airspace from ground level to 400 feet above ground within the boundary of a state correctional facility. A court may impose a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both; it may also order the drone forfeited. Not knowing the drone was in restricted airspace is not a defense. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
The Department of Correction must post signs on nearby roads identifying a Drone No Fly Zone. The signs must be posted on roads near correctional facilities. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 1Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 233 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 30Delivered to Governor at 12:31 p.m. on March 30, 2026To Governor
- Mar 30Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 30Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 30Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 27Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 26Rules Suspended: Ayes 65 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 5, read in full as required – PASSED - 60-6-4AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Furniss, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Bruce, Cayler, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, ThompsonAbsent – Crane(13), Fuhriman, Galaviz, RubelFloor Sponsor - HillTitle apvd - to enrolMajor
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 65 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 5, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26Read first time as amended in Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 26Reported Engrossed; Filed for First Reading of Engrossed Bills
- Mar 25Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
- Mar 25Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 25House Concurred in Senate Amendments
- Mar 25Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 24Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote - Read in full as required) – Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 30-4-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Foreman, Kohl, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - KeyserTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote Read in full as required) – Read third time as amended in the Senate –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24Read second time as amended in the Senate, filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 23Read first time as amended in the Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 23Amendments reported printed
- Mar 20Reported out as amended; filed for first reading
- Mar 20Amendments ordered printed
- Mar 20Placed in the Committee of the Whole
- Mar 17Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
- Feb 18Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & RulesMinor
- Feb 18Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Feb 17Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 62-7-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman(Zaken), Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Beiswenger, Bruce, Cayler, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, ThompsonAbsent – McCannFloor Sponsor - HillTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Take bill off General Orders; filed for third reading
- Feb 12Reported out of Committee, Recommend place on General Orders
- Feb 4Read Third Time in Full – U.C. to be returned to Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee
- Feb 3U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Feb 2Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Jan 30Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Jan 27Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration
- Jan 26Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Public SafetyCriminal Justice