Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates a Class A misdemeanor offense when a person operates an unmanned aircraft within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8; T, the official text

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                        ~tate of \!Cennessee

                          PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 918

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 2368

                                  By Representatives Doggett, Lafferty, Davis

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 2543

                                                 By Senator Gardenhire

          AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 10; Title 33; Title 36; Title
37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 49; Title 50; Title 55 and Title 70, relative to criminal
justice.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 9, is amended by
adding the following new section:

                    (a) A person commits the offense of unauthorized operation of an unmanned
          aircraft who operates an unmanned aircraft within four hundred feet (400') of or above a
          ticketed entertainment event.

                    (b) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

                    (c) Subsection (a) does not apply when a person who operates an unmanned
          aircraft:

                              (1) Has obtained consent by any person with legal authority over a
                    ticketed entertainment event;

                              (2) Is authorized by the federal aviation administration to operate an
                    unmanned aircraft and is operating the unmanned aircraft in a lawful manner and
                    consistent with federal regulations;

                              (3) Is an employee of the property where the ticketed entertainment event
                    is held and is conducting official business;

                              (4) Is an employee of a water, sewer, electrical, telephone, cable, or other
                    regulated utility service provider and is conducting official business;

                              (5) Is a law enforcement officer engaged in the actual discharge of official
                    duties;

                              (6) Is a member or employee of any branch of the United States armed
                    forces or the military forces of this state engaged in the actual discharge of
                    official duties;

                              (7) Is an emergency management officer of this state or of any city, town,
                    municipality, metropolitan government, or county of this state engaged in the
                    actual discharge of official duties; or

                              (8) Is an owner of private property who is operating an unmanned aircraft
                    above such property; provided, that the operation is:

                                        (A) Consistent with federal regulations;

                                        (B) Not for the purpose of interfering in any way with a ticketed
                              entertainment event; and

                                        (C) Not to surveille or capture images of security procedures for
                              unlawful purposes.
HB2368
                   (d) As used in this section, "ticketed entertainment event" means any music,

         sporting, or performing arts event held in a location with gated entries or barriers that
         prevent access to the general public and in which a ticket that has been issued by an
         owner, operator, or lessee of such property is required for attendance at such event.
         SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to acts occurring on or after that date.

                                                              2
                     HOUSE BILL NO. 2368

PASSED:  April 13, 2026

                             CAMERON ScXTON, SPEAKER
                             HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         ,<..._ ~- '1:Y\-..~\~

                                    '     RANDY MCNALLY
                                SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                is+  day of  [YJQ~        2026

APPROVED this

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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR