An Act relative to unmanned aerial systems

This bill (S 2438) establishes statewide regulations for drone use in Massachusetts. It prohibits municipalities from creating their own drone rules beyond federal standards, bans armed drones (except for authorized bomb disposal), and restricts drone surveillance without consent - requiring law enforcement to obtain warrants for most surveillance use. Operators face fines up to $10,000 for interfering with aircraft, emergency responders, or violating FAA rules, and must provide true identification if requested by police. The bill also mandates law enforcement to delete drone footage after 120 days unless it’s evidence in an active case. The bill is pending in the Transportation committee with a scheduled hearing.