Aviation: unmanned aircraft systems: ticketed entertainment events and amusement parks.

Removed the requirement that a 'ticketed entertainment event' must have a revocable license issued by the venue operator required for attendance. The definition now only requires (1) a venue with 1,000 or more capacity with gated entries or barriers, and (2) that the event is not covered by FAA restrictions.

By removing the revocable license requirement, the bill's no-drone zone now applies to a broader set of outdoor events. Any professional music, sporting, or performing arts event in a 1,000+ capacity venue with gated entries is covered, regardless of whether the venue issues a formal revocable license.

Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was added as principal coauthor.

The 400-foot drone prohibition now applies to amusement parks in addition to outdoor ticketed entertainment events, extending the law's reach to permanent facilities like theme parks.

A new definition of 'amusement park' was added: a permanent facility open to the public with one or more amusement rides or attractions, classified under NAICS Code 713110.

The definition of 'venue operator' was broadened to include persons who own, operate, manage, or control an amusement park, not just an entertainment venue.

The requirement that a ticketed entertainment event 'is not covered by Federal Aviation Administration restrictions' appears to have been removed from the definition, potentially bringing events in FAA-restricted airspace within the bill's scope.

A new exemption allows persons holding an FAA certificate, waiver, or authorization to operate drones for commercial purposes beyond visual line of sight, provided they comply with federal regulations. This exemption explicitly does not authorize capturing copyrighted images or video without venue operator permission.

The utility provider exemption was expanded to include federal, state, or local transportation agencies, including the Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

The emergency personnel exemption was narrowed from 'other emergency personnel' to 'other public agency emergency personnel,' limiting the exemption to those employed by a public agency.

The prohibition was simplified from 'within a 400-foot radius of, or above, a 400 feet of an outdoor ticketed entertainment event' to 'within 400 feet of an outdoor ticketed entertainment event,' removing the 'radius' and 'or above' language.

Removed legislative findings (c) and (d) that discussed federal jurisdiction over national airspace and the role of local law enforcement familiarity in overseeing public safety at events. Also removed finding (g) about state action necessity for protecting the economic ecosystem of outdoor live events.

Removed the exception that allowed operation by a person authorized under FAA federal regulations operating in a lawful manner consistent with those regulations. This narrows who can legally fly drones near events.

Added a new subsection (d) explicitly stating the prohibition does not apply to firefighters, peace officers, medical personnel, or other emergency personnel performing fire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response duties within 400 feet of an event.

Added 'Olympic and Paralympic Games' to the list of marquee events in the legislative findings, alongside the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Fixed grammatical errors including removing a stray 'held' from the ticketed entertainment event definition, removing an incomplete phrase 'and in which a public' from subsection (1), and correcting 'under any either of' to 'under either of.'

The prohibition now applies only to outdoor ticketed entertainment events, adding the word 'outdoor' which excludes indoor venues entirely.

The definition of 'ticketed entertainment event' is narrowed to require: (1) the event be professional, (2) the venue have a capacity of 1,000 or more attendees, and (3) the event not already be covered by FAA restrictions. This excludes smaller events, amateur events, and events already under federal flight restrictions.

The exemption for private property owners operating their own drones above their property for non-commercial purposes is eliminated. Previously this allowed homeowners near a venue to fly personal drones over their land as long as they were not used commercially or to interfere with the event.

The term 'unmanned aircraft system' is replaced throughout with 'unmanned aircraft,' and the detailed multi-part definition (covering aerodynamic lift, autonomous/remote piloting, expendable/recoverable) is replaced with a simple cross-reference to Section 853.5 of the Government Code.

The geographic restriction language changes from 'within 400 feet of' to 'within a 400-foot radius of,' which is a more precise geometric description but substantively similar.

New definition of 'venue operator' added: any person who owns, operates, manages, or controls an entertainment venue. The term 'entertainment venue' is also introduced into the definition of 'ticketed entertainment event.'

The definition of 'unmanned aircraft system' now cross-references Section 853.5 of the Government Code for the meaning of 'aircraft,' aligning the bill with existing state law terminology.

The distance restriction is clarified from 'within 400 feet of' to 'within a 400-foot radius of,' making the geographic boundary more precise and less ambiguous for enforcement.

Exception (1) is restructured into two subparts: (A) consent from a person with legal authority over the venue operator, or (B) the person is an employee of the entertainment venue conducting official business. This explicitly grants venue employees a safe harbor that was previously only implied under the general 'employee of the property' exception.

The federal authorization exception now specifically references regulations 'adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration' rather than generic 'federal regulations,' narrowing the scope to FAA rules specifically.