Updates to rules regarding small unmanned aircraft safety standards

Section 44805 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) ensuring that no State is prohibited from requiring additional equipage for a small unmanned aircraft system so long as such small unmanned aircraft system is solely authorized to operate in the immediate reaches of airspace (as defined in section 44801) and the lateral boundaries of a State.; (2) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking may and inserting shall; (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Requirements for accepting risk-Based consensus safety standards (1) Cost-benefit analysis The Administrator shall not accept a risk-based consensus safety standard under subsection (a)(1) unless the Administrator has first conducted a cost-benefit analysis and certified that the benefit of the safety standard substantially outweighs the costs to the manufacturer and consumer. (2) Must be essential The Administrator shall not accept a risk-based consensus safety standard under subsection (a)(1) unless the Administrator determines that the safety standard is essential for small unmanned aircraft systems to operate safely in the UTM..