H.R. 6460 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Mar 24, 2026. Received Mar 25, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryOpens controlled airspace to recreational drones
The FAA currently limits where people can fly recreational drones, especially in certain controlled airspace near airports. This bill would expand those areas by allowing the FAA to authorize recreational drone flights at fixed locations in certain types of controlled airspace—specifically Class E airspace that sits above uncontrolled airspace or connects to airport surface areas. It basically carves out more zones where drone hobbyists could legally operate.
How it affects you
If you fly drones as a hobby, this could give you more places to legally fly from fixed locations. You'd still need FAA authorization in these new zones, but the bill opens the door for that authorization to happen in airspace where recreational drones are currently prohibited.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Mar 16, 2026)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 6460
AN ACT
Recreational Drone Empowerment Act
Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-1) · Introduced Dec 4, 2025 · Transportation and Public Works · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 25, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 4 official versions.