Bill Text: IL SB1981 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Defines "National Airspace System". Provides that State-level oversight of unmanned aircraft systems does not deprive any unit of local government of the right to or impede any unit of local government in regulating the use of the first 150 feet above ground level of any public property intended or permitted to be used for recreational or conservation purposes. Effective Immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-10 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB1981 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB1981-Introduced.html


103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1981

Introduced 2/9/2023, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
620 ILCS 5/42.1

Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Defines "National Airspace System". Provides that State-level oversight of unmanned aircraft systems does not deprive any unit of local government of the right to or impede any unit of local government in regulating the use of the first 150 feet above ground level of any public property intended or permitted to be used for recreational or conservation purposes. Effective Immediately.
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A BILL FOR

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1 AN ACT concerning transportation.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Illinois Aeronautics Act is amended by
5changing Section 42.1 as follows:
6 (620 ILCS 5/42.1)
7 Sec. 42.1. Regulation of unmanned aircraft systems.
8 (a) As used in this Section:
9 "National Airspace System" means that airspace above
10ground level, not used by the property owner, and over which
11the federal government and the State of Illinois have
12regulatory authority. "National Airspace System" does not
13include the first 150 feet above ground level of any public
14property that is used for recreational or conservation
15purposes, including, but not limited to, parks, playgrounds,
16open areas, buildings or other enclosed recreational
17facilities.
18 "Unmanned aircraft" means a device used or intended to be
19used for flight in the air that is operated without the
20possibility of direct human intervention within or on the
21device.
22 "Unmanned aircraft system" means an unmanned aircraft and
23its associated elements, including communication links and the

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1components that control the unmanned aircraft, that are
2required for the safe and efficient operation of the unmanned
3aircraft in the National Airspace System national airspace
4system.
5 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, to To
6the extent that State-level oversight does not conflict with
7federal laws, rules, or regulations, the regulation of an
8unmanned aircraft system is an exclusive power and function of
9the State. No unit of local government, including a home rule
10unit, may enact an ordinance or resolution to regulate
11unmanned aircraft systems in the National Airspace System.
12Nothing in this Section deprives a unit of local government of
13the right to regulate or impedes a unit of local government in
14regulating the use of the first 150 feet above ground level of
15any public property intended or permitted to be used for
16recreational or conservation purposes, including, but not
17limited to, parks, playgrounds, open areas, buildings, or
18other enclosed recreational facilities. This Section is a
19denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under
20subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois
21Constitution. This Section does not apply to any local
22ordinance enacted by a municipality of more than 1,000,000
23inhabitants.
24 (c) Nothing in this Section shall infringe or impede any
25current right or remedy available under existing State law.
26 (d) The Department may adopt any rules that it finds

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1appropriate to address the safe and legal operation of
2unmanned aircraft systems in this State, so that those engaged
3in the operation of unmanned aircraft systems may so engage
4with the least possible restriction, consistent with their
5safety and with the safety and the rights of others, and in
6compliance with federal rules and regulations.
7(Source: P.A. 100-735, eff. 8-3-18.)
8 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9becoming law.
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