HR6460Passed House
Recreational Drone Empowerment Act
Introduced
In Committee
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both5
Signed into Law119th
Congress
2025-12-04
Introduced
1
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘType
Sponsor
Tracey Mann
Republican · KS · Representative
Votes with party: 97.6% (671 recorded votes)
Full profile: /officials/M000871
Source: Congress.gov · FEC
Cosponsors (1)
Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.
Latest Action
The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2026-03-25
Source: Congress.gov
Committee Activity
Currently in
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationReferred To · 2026-03-25
- House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureReported By · 2026-03-16
Previously
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation CommitteeReferred To · 2026-03-25
- Transportation and Infrastructure CommitteeReported By · 2026-03-16
- Transportation and Infrastructure CommitteeMarkup By · 2025-12-18
- Transportation and Infrastructure CommitteeDischarged from · 2025-12-18
- House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureDischarged from · 2025-12-18
Plain-English Summary
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, recreational drones may generally operate in certain circumstances from a fixed site, including within Class B, C, or D airspace. They may also operate within Class G airspace (1) up to 400 feet above ground level, without prior FAA authorization; and (2) over 400 feet above ground level with prior FAA authorization. The FAA has interpreted current law to allow recreational drone operations in Class E2 airspace designated for an airport and prohibit recreational drone operations in other Class E sectors. The bill specifies that the FAA may authorize recreational drones to operate at fixed site locations in Class E airspace that is above Class G airspace; or designated as an extension to a Class B, C, D, or E surface area.
Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.
Subjects
Transportation and Public Works
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