3.0.0 6460 2026-06-11T23:41:28Z 2026-07-13T19:02:50Z House H HR 2025-12-04 119 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6460 [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 203 (Thursday, December 4, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. MANN:H.R. 6460.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.[Page H5052]]]> sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Standing Referred To 2026-03-25T18:55:01Z hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee House Standing hspw05 Aviation Subcommittee Referred to 2025-12-05T17:33:55Z Reported By 2026-03-16T17:37:50Z Markup By 2025-12-18T18:52:08Z Discharged from 2025-12-18T18:51:53Z Referred To 2025-12-04T14:02:05Z H. Rept. 119-549 2026-03-25 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. IntroReferral 2026-03-24 16:55:38 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Floor H38310 2 House floor actions 2026-03-24 16:55:37 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2659) Floor H37300 2 House floor actions 2026-03-24 16:55:37 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. Floor 8000 9 Library of Congress 2026-03-24 16:49:02 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6460. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2026-03-24 16:49:01 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2659-2660) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2026-03-24 16:49:00 Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. Floor H30300 2 House floor actions 2026-03-16 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 472. Calendars H12410 2 House floor actions U00472 2026-03-16 Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-549. Committee H12200 2 House floor actions hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2026-03-16 Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-549. Committee 5000 9 Library of Congress hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2025-12-18 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. Committee 2025-12-18 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held Committee 2025-12-18 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Subcommittee on Aviation Discharged Committee 2025-12-05 hspw05 Aviation Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation. Committee 2025-12-04 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2025-12-04 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2025-12-04 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress M000871 Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1] Tracey Mann R KS 1 N D000629 Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] Sharice Davids D KS 3 2025-12-04 True 2026-02-03T20:06:00Z H.R. 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act https://www.cbo.gov/publication/62073 As ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 18, 2025 Transportation and Public Works Administrative law and regulatory procedures 2026-03-27T17:05:05Z Aviation and airports 2026-03-27T16:56:22Z Licensing and registrations 2026-03-27T17:04:21Z Transportation safety and security 2026-03-27T17:04:53Z Transportation and Public Works 2026-03-19T14:20:09Z 07 2026-03-16 Reported to House 2026-03-20T21:45:21Z Recreational Drone Empowerment Act

This bill expands the areas in which recreational unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones) are authorized to fly.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has various classifications for airspace, including Class E airspace, which is controlled airspace that is comprised of multiple sectors (e.g., Classes E1 to E5). Class E airspace includes sectors that (1) generally begin where Class G airspace (i.e., uncontrolled airspace) ends, and (2) are associated with an airport surface area or a surface level extension to another class of airspace.

Under current law, recreational drones may generally operate in certain circumstances from a fixed site, including within Class B, C, or D airspace. They may also operate within Class G airspace (1) up to 400 feet above ground level, without prior FAA authorization; and (2) over 400 feet above ground level with prior FAA authorization.

The FAA has interpreted current law to allow recreational drone operations in Class E2 airspace designated for an airport and prohibit recreational drone operations in other Class E sectors.

The bill specifies that the FAA may authorize recreational drones to operate at fixed site locations in Class E airspace that is

  • above Class G airspace; or
  • designated as an extension to a Class B, C, D, or E surface area.
]]> Recreational Drone Empowerment Act Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text 255 Recreational Drone Empowerment Act 2026-03-27T02:53:22Z S Senate Referred in Senate RFS Short Title(s) as Passed House 104 Recreational Drone Empowerment Act 2026-03-26T03:08:23Z H House Engrossed in House EH Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text 259 To amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify exceptions for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes. 2026-03-26T03:08:23Z H House Engrossed in House EH Short Title(s) as Reported to House 102 Recreational Drone Empowerment Act 2026-03-17T03:38:21Z H House Reported in House RH Display Title 45 Recreational Drone Empowerment Act 2025-12-16T06:53:16Z Short Title(s) as Introduced 101 Recreational Drone Empowerment Act 2025-12-16T06:53:15Z Introduced in House IH Official Title as Introduced 6 To amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify exceptions for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes. 2025-12-16T06:48:19Z Introduced in House IH Referred in Senate 2026-03-25T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6460rfs/xml/BILLS-119hr6460rfs.xml Engrossed in House 2026-03-24T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6460eh/xml/BILLS-119hr6460eh.xml Reported in House 2026-03-16T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6460rh/xml/BILLS-119hr6460rh.xml Introduced in House 2025-12-04T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr6460ih/xml/BILLS-119hr6460ih.xml 2026-03-25 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.