HLS 25RS-745 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 261
BY REPRESENTATIVE GALLE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIME: Provides relative to unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 14:337(B)(5) and (6) and (F), relative to offenses affecting the public
3 generally; to provide relative to the crime of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft
4 system; to provide for definitions; to provide for duties of law enforcement; and to
5 provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 14:337(B)(5) and (6) and (F) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง337. Unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system
9 * * *
10 B. As used in this Section, the following definitions shall apply:
11 * * *
12 (5) "Mitigation measures" mean actions, such as jamming, that are taken to
13 cause electronic interference to neutralize, intercept, disable, or disrupt an unmanned
14 aircraft system in order to prevent illegal or harmful activity.
15 (6) "Nefarious manner" means an illegal, dangerous, or harmful purpose in
16 which an unmanned aircraft system is used. Such purpose may include but is not
17 limited to spying, smuggling contraband as defined in R.S. 14:402, facilitating
18 criminal activity, or posing a direct threat to public safety.
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 261
1 F.(1) A law enforcement officer or agency may take reasonable and
2 necessary mitigation measures against a threat posed by an unmanned aircraft system
3 operating within this state in a nefarious manner. Such measures may include but
4 not be limited to any of the following:
5 (a) The use of detection, tracking, and identification methods.
6 (b) The interception or disabling of an unmanned aircraft system through
7 legal and safe methods, including but not limited to jamming, hacking, or physical
8 capture.
9 (2) A law enforcement officer or agency shall only act pursuant to Paragraph
10 (1) of this Subsection if there is reasonable suspicion that the unmanned aircraft
11 system is involved in criminal activity, poses an imminent threat to public safety, or
12 is otherwise operating in violation of state or federal law.
13 Section 2. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "We Will Act" Act.
14 Section 3. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
15alphabetize and renumber the definitions contained in R.S. 14:337(B) and to correct any
16cross-references to the renumbered paragraphs if necessary, consistent with the provisions
17of this Act.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 261 Original 2025 Regular Session Galle
Abstract: Provides relative to the unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system.
Present law (R.S. 14:337) provides for the crime of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft
system.
Proposed law retains present law generally.
Present law (R.S. 14:337(B)) provides for definitions.
Proposed law retains present law and defines the terms "mitigation measures" and "nefarious
manner".
Proposed law authorizes a law enforcement officer or agency to take reasonable and
necessary mitigation measures against a threat posed by an unmanned aircraft system
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HB NO. 261
operating within this state in a nefarious manner. Further provides that such measures may
include but not be limited to any of the following:
(1)The use of detection, tracking, and identification methods.
(2)The interception or disabling of an unmanned aircraft system through legal and safe
methods, including but not limited to jamming, hacking, or physical capture.
Proposed law provides that a law enforcement officer or agency shall only act pursuant to
proposed law if there is reasonable suspicion that the unmanned aircraft system is involved
in criminal activity, poses an imminent threat to public safety, or is otherwise operating in
violation of state or federal law.
Proposed law shall be known and may be cited as the "We Will Act" Act.
Directs the La. State Law Institute to alphabetize and renumber the definitions contained in
R.S. 14:337(B) and to correct any cross-references that may need to be changed as a result
of this renumbering.
(Adds R.S. 14:337(B)(5) and (6) and (F))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.