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119-hr-3433119th Congress

WILD Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Introduced

Summary

Authorizes limited government drone operations in designated wilderness, potential wilderness, and wilderness study areas. It would let Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies operate unmanned aircraft systems for environmental monitoring (including harmful algal blooms and invasive species), law enforcement and search and rescue (including U.S. Customs and Border Protection), and natural disaster monitoring.

Show full summary
  • Environmental researchers and park managers could get more aerial data to track harmful algal blooms and invasive species in remote places.
  • Search-and-rescue teams and law enforcement could use drones to find missing people and assess disaster damage faster. The text specifically includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection for enforcement activities.
  • Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies would have explicit statutory authority to operate drones in the specified wilderness and study areas. Operations remain subject to applicable federal law and agency regulations.
  • Private and commercial drone operators are not granted new aviation rights by this change.
  • The act does not create a new funding mechanism, so agencies would need to use existing budgets for any drone operations.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Government drones in wilderness areas

This bill would let Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies operate drones in wilderness areas the bill names, in potential wilderness areas, and in wilderness study areas under FLPMA section 603. Agencies could use drones only for environmental monitoring and research (for example, harmful algal blooms and invasive species), law enforcement and search-and-rescue (including U.S. Customs and Border Protection), and to monitor the effects of a natural disaster (as defined in the Stafford Act). The bill would use federal definitions for 'unmanned aircraft system' and 'natural disaster.' It would not create new private drone flight rights or provide new funding. If enacted, this authority would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

FL • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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