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HB 6861 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CONNECTICUT AIRPORT AUTHORITY REGARDING THE PROJECTION OF A LASER AT AN AIRCRAFT OR THE FLIGHT PATH OF AN AIRCRAFT.

HB 6861 makes it illegal for anyone to intentionally point a laser at an aircraft or its flight path, effective October 1, 2025. The law directly affects the public, as it prohibits this action under penalty of a class A misdemeanor, with exceptions for military personnel (state or federal) and police officers acting in their official duties. Key provisions define "laser" broadly to include devices simulating lasers and clarify exemptions for authorized personnel during official duties. The bill aims to enhance aviation safety by preventing laser interference with aircraft operations.
Issues: ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances aviation safety by prohibiting laser interference with aircraft, directly strengthening transportation safety standards for air travel.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Apr 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → TRA Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was revised to remove provisions governing unmanned aircraft operations and consolidate laser safety rules into a single section. The title was shortened to focus only on laser projections, and the definition of 'aircraft' was simplified to match existing statutes. Exemptions for military and police personnel were streamlined.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing all regulations related to equipping unmanned aircraft with weapons and operating drones near critical infrastructure facilities.
SCOPE

All provisions regarding unmanned aircraft, including restrictions on equipping them with weapons and operating them near critical infrastructure, were removed from the bill.

DEFINITION

The definition section was reorganized to include 'laser' as a defined term and removed definitions for 'ammunition', 'deadly weapon', 'dangerous instrument', 'firearm', 'explosive or incendiary device', and 'firefighter'.

REQUIREMENT

Section 2, which prohibited equipping aircraft with weapons and restricted drone operations near critical infrastructure, was completely removed.

Section 3 was renumbered and consolidated to focus solely on prohibiting the intentional projection of lasers at aircraft or their flight paths.

ENFORCEMENT

Section 4, which contained the laser prohibition and exemptions, was renumbered and merged with the reorganized Section 3.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the laser prohibition remains October 1, 2025, but the effective date for the removed unmanned aircraft provisions is no longer applicable.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Judiciary
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Transportation
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.