STAR Act
Sponsored By: Representative Soto
Introduced
Summary
Grants NASA and licensed space-launch operators new authority to protect facilities and property from unmanned aircraft. It would let those entities detect, warn, disrupt, seize, or even disable or destroy drones that threaten safety or security.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
Seized drones can be forfeited
This bill would make any drone seized under the new authorities subject to forfeiture. A drone seized by NASA could be forfeited to the United States. A drone seized by a covered launch entity could be forfeited to the local law enforcement agency where the seizure happened. Drone owners could lose their devices permanently under these rules.
Liability rules for drone actions
The bill would prevent NASA officials from using absolute or qualified immunity as a defense for actions taken under the NASA authority. It would also make a drone operator liable for damages caused by an authorized action when the drone posed the described threat and the action mitigated it. Covered entities and their personnel likewise could not claim absolute or qualified immunity as a defense for actions under the launch-site authority.
New powers to stop dangerous drones
If enacted, the bill would let NASA officers and licensed launch-site entities detect, track, warn, disrupt control, seize, or use reasonable force to disable or destroy drones that threaten safety or security. These actions could be taken without prior consent when necessary to mitigate a threat. The covered-entity authority would be subject to the NASA authority and both are available notwithstanding other laws.
Signs, reports, and police coordination
If enacted, covered facilities and properties would have to post signs warning the public about possible counter-drone actions and forfeiture. Covered entities and NASA would meet annually with local police to plan the least-hazardous ways to act. After a seizure, disabling, or other forceful action, the entity must report to local law enforcement within 30 days and provide details; NASA would also deliver an annual report to Congress and federal officials about each such action and privacy protections. NASA would coordinate with the Attorney General, Defense, Homeland Security, and FAA to create one uniform policy covering these actions.
Which sites and drones are covered
This bill would define which NASA facilities, launch sites, and pieces of property count as "covered" for the new drone rules. It would also adopt the federal definition of "unmanned aircraft" and name county or county-equivalent police as the local law enforcement agency. These definitions would be used when applying the NASA and launch-site authorities in the title.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Soto
FL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov