Bill > HB69

This bill, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Use and Privacy Safeguarding Act, enacts several provisions related to the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in New Mexico. Key provisions of the bill include: 1. Defining key terms like "unmanned aircraft system," "first responder," and "land possessor." 2. Establishing civil liability for "aerial trespass" by a UAS that substantially interferes with the use and enjoyment of private property, while providing exceptions for certain authorized uses by law enforcement, businesses, and public agencies. 3. Establishing civil liability for physically landing a UAS on private property without permission, with exceptions for forced landings or malfunctions. 4. Requiring land possessors to act with reasonable care regarding known UAS operations over their property, while prohibiting them from using active countermeasures that could damage the UAS, operator, or other property. 5. Creating a misdemeanor offense for "reckless endangerment" through careless UAS operation. 6. Prohibiting UAS takeoffs and landings on state-owned land without permission, and creating a felony offense for unlawful UAS operation near correctional facilities. 7. Prohibiting UAS use to interfere with hunting, fishing, or wildlife, with a felony penalty. 8. Providing immunity to first responders for damage caused to a UAS that interferes with emergency services, and creating a felony offense for unlawful interference with a first responder's UAS use. 9. Exempting community-based organizations from the Act's requirements. 10. Requiring the Department of Public Safety to study ways to integrate UAS use by state and local governments.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislation.aspx?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=69&year=21