TennesseeTennessee law restricts drone flights near ticketed entertainment events
Flying a drone within 400 feet of or above certain ticketed events in Tennessee is a misdemeanor, with exceptions for permission, federal authorization, official work, and qualifying property owners.
What it does
Drone flights within 400 feet of or above covered ticketed events are a criminal offense. Exceptions cover event consent, lawful federally authorized operators, specified official work, and qualifying flights above owners’ property.
Argument forRestricting drone flights near ticketed events could reduce distractions for attendees while exceptions allow authorized flights and official work.
Argument againstDrone operators outside the exceptions could face criminal charges for nearby flights even when they do not intend to disrupt an event.
More detail
Drone operators commit a Class A misdemeanor, a criminal offense, when they fly within 400 feet of or above a covered event without meeting an exception. Covered events are music, sports, or performing arts events behind gates or barriers that block general public access. Attendance must require a ticket issued by the property’s owner, operator, or renter. Operators are exempt if someone with legal authority over the event consents, or if the Federal Aviation Administration authorizes them to operate and they fly lawfully under federal rules. Employees of the event property or a regulated utility are exempt while conducting official business. Police, military personnel, and state or local emergency management officers are exempt while performing official duties. Private property owners are exempt above their own property if they follow federal rules, do not intend to interfere with the event, and do not watch or capture images of security procedures for unlawful purposes. The law took effect July 1, 2026, and applies to acts occurring on or after that date.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 18Pub. Ch. 918Latest
- May 18Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 1Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- Apr 21Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- Apr 20Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 16Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 14Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 13Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/13/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 13Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0920)
- Apr 13Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0, PNV 1Passed Senate
- Apr 9Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Apr 6Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026 4/2/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/6/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0998)Major
- Apr 6Passed H., as am., Ayes 93, Nays 3, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 6Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 2H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
- Apr 1Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/1/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 1Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
- Mar 25Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee 3/25/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
- Mar 18Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
- Mar 18Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
- Mar 11Ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Mar 11Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Mar 11Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
- Feb 5P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionIntroduced
Public SafetyCriminal Justice