A pair of recently signed bills proposed by state Rep. Michele Hoitenga will protect state interests through the establishment of state laws for drones.

House Bill 5494, which became Public Act 444 of 2018, declares drone use as an extension of the person in instances of criminal activity. Illegal activity carried out with the use of a drone, such as dropping contraband, weapons, cell phones or other items onto correctional facility property for inmates, would be treated the same as an individual breaking the law without unmanned aircraft as an aid.

HB 5496, which became Public Act 446 of 2018, aims to expand and centralize available information on a growing industry, tasking the existing Michigan Aeronautics Commission with providing education to various departments, the public, law enforcement and other entities.

“These are needed laws as there was previously very little to go on at the state level for acceptable drone use,” said Hoitenga, of Manton, who chaired the House Communications and Technology Committee during the 2017-18 legislative term. “Outside of Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, state governments have been assessing their role in regulating unmanned aircraft and these bills are the results of that work here in our state. We wanted to be careful not to infringe on a growing hobby, but also ensure that state interests are protected going forward and provide a central location for information.”

In April 2017, a 27-member Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force appointed by the governor began work to develop statewide recommendations on the operation, use and regulation of drones in Michigan. The drafted legislation that was spearheaded by Rep. Hoitenga took into account the recommendations of the task force, which featured a multitude of stakeholders and experts within the field.

The bills were advanced in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion by the Michigan House in March and moved through the Senate unanimously in December.