For the 2023 legislative session, Missouri introduced four measures related to drones, none of which passed. Three of the measures were part of a drone regulatory bill package, eventually being combined into one comprehensive measure, and built upon attempts to regulate drones in previous sessions.  

Legislation    

Needed Improvement: 

• House Bill 179 – This measure makes it a class A misdemeanor, instead of an infraction, to operate a UAS over an open-air facility. It was combined into HB 178. 

• House Bill 401 – This measure prohibits state, country, or local law enforcement agencies from using UAS to gather information relating criminal conduct without a warrant, with exceptions provided for emergency situations, to assess the need for first responders, and to inspect state parks. It was combined into HB 178. 

• House Bill 178 This measure, as introduced, prohibited UAS operation on private property within 400 feet of the ground without the property owner's consent. It was amended to include the above two measures, to remove the 400-foot provision, and to provide an exception for federally authorized operations. It died in the second chamber. In its original version, the measure was at odds with federal law, overly restrictive, and ultimately harmful to the commercial drone industry.  

Satisfactory: 

• House Bill 698 – This measure states that product owners and independent repair providers have the right to repaid and diagnostic information made available to authorized repair providers. It includes UAS as a “product” as defined in the bill. The measure died in its original committee. This language is technology neutral, only referencing drones in a definition that includes all other types of farming equipment.  

Willingness to Engage: Satisfactory   

Missouri showed a willingness to engage with stakeholders and create fair language throughout the process. The packet of drone bills was introduced as an improvement upon the previous version in the 2022 session, considering some of the concerns around what constitutes private property and what the State actually has authority to regulate. While the 2023 version still had issues, industry, including AUVSI, was able to work with stakeholders in the State to amend the language to remove the most concerning provision, the 400-foot restriction, and ensure a commercial exemption.  

Openness to Industry: Needs Improvement 

While compromise language was eventually agreed upon, and stakeholder input was taken into account, there was some resistance on engaging with the larger industry. Despite the 2022 version being scrapped because of concerns, it was still reintroduced with some of the same problematic provisions, ignoring the underlying problem of airspace regulation.  

Overall: Needs Improvement 

The outcome of the 2023 legislative session in Missouri was strong, with consensus language eventually being reached, and no measures ultimately passing the legislature, preventing burdensome regulations. The legislature was open to State stakeholder input, with the language being adjusted from last year and then amended further to be in line with federal statute and more favorable for industry. Still, the continued introduction of measures regulating flight is against federal standards and industry recommendations. With a continued receptiveness to input, and slightly more engagement with industry, we are confident that Missouri can propose and enact good legislation from the jump.