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H.R. 6460 119th Congress House

Recreational Drone Empowerment Act

Official title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify exceptions for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes.

Introduced: December 4, 2025 Introduced by: Tracey Mann Republican · Kansas See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAviation and airportsLicensing and registrationsTransportation safety and security
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 Everywhere this bill has been 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 25, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 24, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2659-2660)
Mar 24, 2026
Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Mar 24, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 24, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2659)
Mar 24, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Mar 24, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6460.
Mar 16, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 472.
Mar 16, 2026
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-549.
Dec 18, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Dec 18, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Dec 18, 2025
Subcommittee on Aviation Discharged
Dec 5, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Dec 4, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Dec 4, 2025
Introduced in House
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What's happening now March 25, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Recreational Drone Empowerment Act

This bill expands the areas in which recreational unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones) are authorized to fly.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has various classifications for airspace, including Class E airspace, which is controlled airspace that is comprised of multiple sectors (e.g., Classes E1 to E5). Class E airspace includes sectors that (1) generally begin where Class G airspace (i.e., uncontrolled airspace) ends, and (2) are associated with an airport surface area or a surface level extension to another class of airspace.

Under current law, recreational drones may generally operate in certain circumstances from a fixed site, including within Class B, C, or D airspace. They may also operate within Class G airspace (1) up to 400 feet above ground level, without prior FAA authorization; and (2) over 400 feet above ground level with prior FAA authorization.

The FAA has interpreted current law to allow recreational drone operations in Class E2 airspace designated for an airport and prohibit recreational drone operations in other Class E sectors.

The bill specifies that the FAA may authorize recreational drones to operate at fixed site locations in Class E airspace that is

  • above Class G airspace; or
  • designated as an extension to a Class B, C, D, or E surface area.
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 11

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bodies those filers lobbied

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 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Davids, Sharice
Kansas · Dec 4, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6460: Recreational Drone Empowerment Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6460/
MLA
"H.R. 6460: Recreational Drone Empowerment Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6460/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6460, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6460/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6460: Recreational Drone Empowerment Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6460/)
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