Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens seaport security and gives ports and federal agencies clearer tools and penalties to counter drone threats, but it does so by restricting airspace and drone uses and expanding seizure and enforcement powers that raise privacy, due-process, and cost concerns for operators, communities, and taxpayers.
Seaports, port workers, and coastal communities will face reduced risk of drone-enabled disruption or attack because the bill strengthens authorities and tools to detect and counter hostile or reckless drones.
Local port operators and governments gain clearer legal authority and operational tools (including seizure/disable powers) to protect port operations and safety.
Drone operators and port stakeholders get regulatory clarity because the bill requires the FAA to designate covered airspace and establish notification procedures within 180 days.
Hobbyist and commercial drone operators (and businesses that rely on drones for inspections or surveys) will lose legal access to airspace up to 1,000 ft over many seaports, restricting recreational and commercial uses.
Expanded authorities to detect, seize, or disable drones give ports and federal agencies powers that, if misused or overbroadly applied, risk property damage and privacy intrusions for nearby communities.
New criminal penalties (including up to 10 years imprisonment for aggravated intent) create severe punishments that could be applied in contested-intent cases, raising due-process and proportionality concerns.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Bans most drone operations in defined seaport airspace (surface–1,000 ft), authorizes detection/seizure/disable, creates civil and criminal penalties, and directs FAA rules in 180 days.
Official title: To protect seaports from unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 9, 2026 by Jimmy Patronis · Last progress June 9, 2026
Creates a federal restriction on unmanned aircraft over qualifying U.S. seaports by defining covered seaport airspace (surface to 1,000 feet above ground level, plus any FAA-designated airspace) and broadly banning drone operations there except for authorized activities. The measure gives the FAA and seaports authority to detect, seize, disable, and otherwise mitigate unauthorized drones, establishes civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation and criminal penalties (up to 2 years imprisonment, or up to 10 years for operations with intent to surveil, damage, disrupt, or facilitate criminal/terrorist activity), and requires the FAA Administrator to issue implementing regulations within 180 days.