| Chapter 125 |
| 2023 -- H 5420 Enacted 06/19/2023 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO AERONAUTICS -- UNPILOTED AERIAL VEHICLES |
Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Ackerman, and Azzinaro |
| Date Introduced: February 08, 2023 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 1-8-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 1-8 entitled "Unpiloted Aerial |
| Vehicles" is hereby repealed. |
| 1-8-1. Exclusive aerial regulations. |
| Subject to federal law, the state of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island airport corporation |
| shall have exclusive legal authority to regulate any object capable of flying that is remotely |
| controlled and flies autonomously through software-controlled flight plans embedded in the |
| object’s system by a global-position system, commonly known as unpiloted aerial vehicles, |
| remotely piloted aircraft, drones, or unmanned aircraft systems. |
| SECTION 2. Chapter 1-8 of the General Laws entitled "Unpiloted Aerial Vehicles" is |
| hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: |
| 1-8-1.1. Definitions. |
| When used in this chapter: |
| (124) "Unpiloted aircraft systems" or "UAS" means an unpiloted aerial vehicle and |
| associated elements and support equipment required for the safe and efficient operation of the |
| UAV. |
| (213) "Unpiloted aerial vehicle" or "UAV" means a powered aerial vehicle that: |
| (i) Does not carry a human operator and is operated without the possibility of direct human |
| intervention from within or on the aircraft; |
| (ii) Uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift; |
| (iii) Can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely; |
| (iv) Weighs less than fifty-five pounds (55 lbs.). |
| (31) "Municipality" means any city., Town town, or incorporated village within the state. |
| (42) "Operate" or "operation" means to fly, pilot, control, direct, or program the flight of |
| an unpiloted aircraft system. |
| 1-8-1.2. Regulation of unpiloted aircraft systems. |
| (a) Any operation of a UAV or UAS in the state shall comply with all applicable Federal |
| Aviation Administration ("FAA") requirements. Any UAV or UAS operating under the authority |
| of the Armed Forces of the United States, Department of Homeland Services Security or any other |
| federal agency having authority shall be exempt from this law. |
| (b) Any person who operates a UAV or UAS in violation of this chapter shall be subject to |
| penalty in accordance with § 1-4-19. |
| (c) No municipality shall enact or enforce any ordinance regulating the operation of UAVs |
| or UASs except as otherwise authorized by regulation or guideline promulgated by the Federal |
| Aviation Administration or the Rhode Island general laws. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001331 |
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