Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on May 25, 2017.
The bill would "affirm state regulatory authority regarding the operation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones.
[3][6] A week before the bill was introduced, a federal appeals court ruled that the FAA lacks the authority to regulate drone use by hobbyists.
"[5] Feinstein’s proposal would reserve state authority to "issue reasonable restrictions on the time, manner, and place of operation of a civil unmanned aircraft system that is operated below 200 feet above ground level or within 200 feet of a structure," and further defines "reasonable restrictions" to include: limits on speed; prohibitions on flight near any public or private property; restrictions on operations during certain times of day or week, or special occasions; and other "prohibitions that protect public safety, personal privacy, or property rights, or that manage land use or restrict noise pollution.
The Drone Service Providers Alliance (DSPA) predict that Senator Mike Lee will make another attempt to pass this bill in the near future.