Bill Text: MS HB1220 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Unmanned aircrafts; prohibit counties and municipalities from regulating for certain purposes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2018-01-30 - Died In Committee [HB1220 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2018-HB1220-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Touchstone
House Bill 1220
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES FROM RESTRICTING AND REGULATING THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) In this section the following words shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Unmanned aircraft" means the flying portion of an unmanned aircraft system, flown by a pilot via a ground control system, or autonomously through use of an onboard computer, a communication link, and any additional equipment that is necessary for the unmanned aircraft to operate safely; and
(b) "Unmanned aircraft system" means an unmanned aircraft and all the associated support equipment, control stations, data links, telemetry, communications and navigation equipment, and other equipment necessary to operate the unmanned aircraft.
(2) Only the State of Mississippi may enact a law or take any other action to prohibit, restrict, or regulate the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft systems in the state for business purposes.
(3) Subsection (2) of this section shall:
(a) Preempt the authority of a county or municipality to prohibit, restrict, or regulate the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft for business purposes; and
(b) Supersede any existing law or ordinance of a county or municipality that prohibits, restricts, or regulates the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft for business purposes.
(4) This section does not affect federal preemption of state law.
(5) This section does not apply to the prohibition, restriction, or regulation of the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft for personal purposes.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.
