Relating to the operation of an unmanned aircraft over a spaceport; creating a criminal offense, the official text

S.B. No. 1197

AN ACT

relating to the operation of an unmanned aircraft over a spaceport;

creating a criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 42.15, Penal Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 42.15. OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OVER AIRPORT,

[OR] MILITARY INSTALLATION, OR SPACEPORT.

SECTION 2. Section 42.15(a), Penal Code, is amended by

adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:

(3) "Spaceport" means any property or facility that

is:

(A) used for the launch, landing, recovery, or

testing of spacecraft, as defined by Section 507.001, Local

Government Code; and

(B) licensed by the Federal Aviation

Administration or operated by a spaceport development corporation

under Chapter 507, Local Government Code.

SECTION 3. Sections 42.15(b) and (c), Penal Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally

or knowingly:

(1) operates an unmanned aircraft over an airport,

[or] military installation, or spaceport;

(2) allows an unmanned aircraft to make contact with

an airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport, including any

person or object on the premises of or within the airport, [or]

military installation, or spaceport; or

(3) operates an unmanned aircraft in a manner that

interferes with the operations of or causes a disturbance to an

airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport.

(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that

the conduct described by Subsection (b) was engaged in by:

(1) the federal government, this state, or a

governmental entity;

(2) a person under contract with or otherwise acting

under the direction or on behalf of the federal government, this

state, or a governmental entity;

(3) a law enforcement agency;

(4) a person under contract with or otherwise acting

under the direction or on behalf of a law enforcement agency;

(5) an owner or operator of the airport, [or] military

installation, or spaceport;

(6) a person under contract with or otherwise acting

under the direction or on behalf of an owner or operator of the

airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport;

(7) a person who has the prior written or electronic

authorization of:

(A) the owner or operator of the airport, [or]

military installation, or spaceport; or

(B) the Federal Aviation Administration; or

(8) the owner or occupant of the property on which the

airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport is located or a

person who has the prior written consent of the owner or occupant of

that property.

SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.

An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,

and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For

purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the

effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred

before that date.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1197 passed the Senate on

April 7, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that the

Senate concurred in House amendment on May 5, 2025, by the following

vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1197 passed the House, with

amendment, on April 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 147,

Nays 0, two present not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor