# Georgia HB 1230: Aviation; prohibit operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration

Georgia HB 1230, Aviation; prohibit operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Clint Crowe (Republican), Bill Hitchens (Republican), Todd Jones (Republican) and 2 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1230-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 1230
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Aviation; prohibit operation of unmanned aircraft systems over a place of incarceration
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Clint Crowe (Republican), Bill Hitchens (Republican), Todd Jones (Republican), Eddie Lumsden (Republican), Brad Thomas (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Technology and Infrastructure Innovation, Transportation, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (237 yes, 24 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Police gain tools against prison drones: benefit, low. Law enforcement may detect, track, identify, intercept, disable, or disrupt drones flying over prisons, jails, and other detention facilities. Officers need reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, an imminent public safety threat, or another state or federal law violation. Their response must be…
- Utility workers keep drone access near events: benefit, low. Regulated-utility employees are exempt from the drone ban within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event. This covers water, sewer, electric, phone, cable, and other regulated utilities. Employees must be conducting official business within the scope of their jobs.
- Drone operators face prison-related felony penalties: cost, low. Knowingly and intentionally using a drone to break inmate-possession rules carries 1 to 10 years in prison. Recording a prison or jail for a criminal purpose, or flying above it, carries 5 to 10 years. These felony rules also cover knowingly and intentionally allowing the operation from one's prope…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Clint Crowe (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Bill Hitchens (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Todd Jones (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Eddie Lumsden (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Brad Thomas (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Shawn Still (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | MOTION TO TABLE REMAINING LEGISLATION ON THE RULES CALENDAR | pass | 26 | 22 | 5 |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 45 | 0 | 6 |
| 2026-03-03 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 166 | 2 | 4 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-05: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-05: Act 388
- 2026-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Tabled (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-03: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-24: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-10: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-09: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-06: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1230/AP* (v6): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248116)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 1230/AP* (v6) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248116)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1230-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).