Recreational Drone Empowerment Act
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Introduced 2025-12-04
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “Recreational Drone Empowerment Act” Read the full text
Transportation and Public Works
What it does
Recreational Drone Empowerment Act This bill expands the areas in which recreational unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones) are authorized to fly. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has various classifications for airspace, including Class E airspace, which is controlled airspace that is comprised of multiple sectors (e.g., Classes E1 to E5). Class E airspace includes sectors that (1) generally begin where Class G airspace (i.e., uncontrolled airspace) ends, and (2) are associated with an airport surface area or a surface level extension to another class of airspace. Under current law
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, from the official record. Plain-language version below. Not legal advice.
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AI plain language2 sections
Written by AI from the complete official bill text and independently fact-checked against it. Not legal advice.
1Short title
This section would give the Act the short title "Recreational Drone Empowerment Act."
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Official text, verbatim from the record
1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Recreational Drone Empowerment Act .
2Clarifying recreational operations of drone systems
This section would amend section 44809(c)(2)(C) of title 49, United States Code, in two ways: it would add the words "and Class E" to that provision's heading (which currently reads "Uncontrolled"), and it would insert the phrase ", Class E airspace above Class G airspace, or a Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area" into the provision's text right after the existing words "Class G airspace." Both edits only insert new words into an existing rule about airspace categories. Stating what the resulting rule requires or permits for recreational drone operators needs the full base text of 49 U.S.C. 44809(c)(2)(C), which is not part of this bill and is not provided here.
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Official text, verbatim from the record
2. Clarifying recreational operations of drone systems Section 44809(c)(2)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the heading by inserting and Class E after Uncontrolled ; and (2) by inserting , Class E airspace above Class G airspace, or a Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area after Class G airspace .
AI plain languageRead the whole bill in plain language, 2 sections
Where it is
Introduced · 2025-12-04
In the House.
Passed the House · 2026-03-24
Senate floor vote · next
Official documents
Full bill textread it on this site, version rfs (Referred in Senate), as published by GovInfo
officialCongressional Budget Office cost estimatewhat it would cost, by the nonpartisan CBO
officialThe on-site text is shown verbatim from the GovInfo publication, captured 2026-07-23. The same version at GovInfo.
The numbers
29%
of bills that passed one chamber became law in the 118th Congress, 2023 to 2024 (n=939)
2
sponsors, out of 218 needed to pass
Who is lobbying on this
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICSvia CAPITOL HILL POLICY GROUP LLC
3 filingsAIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATIONvia AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
2 filingsAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESvia AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES
2 filingsAIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICAvia AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICA
1 filingFrom 8 filings in federal lobbying disclosures (LDA), via lda.gov, naming this bill (2025 to 2026). Filings are self-reported by lobbying firms and show who is paid to influence this bill. They do not say which side, or whether it worked.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (2026-03-25).