119th Congress · introduced in the House · Dec 4, 2025
Recreational Drone Empowerment Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Mar 25, 2026): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Transportation and Public Works
Congressional Research Service summary, version: 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
Show the full summary (2 more paragraphs)Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2659)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6460.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2659-2660)
Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 472.
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-549.
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-549.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee on Aviation Discharged
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
Administrative law and regulatory procedures · Aviation and airports · Licensing and registrations · Transportation safety and security
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
11 citations.
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$200,000
Spent on own lobbying
…012); True Shutdown Fairness Act (H.R.7322); Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025 (H.R.6267); Recreational Drone Empowerment Act (H.R.6460); Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act (H.R.7501); Safe Skies Act of 2026 (H.R.7526); Airline Competition and Antitrust; Aviation Innovation and Gl…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$1,185,964
Spent on own lobbying
…S. 3031, Keep America Flying Act of 2026 H.R. 5851, Keep America Flying Act of 2026 H.R. 4776, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act H.R. 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act H.R. 7553, Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act H.R. 7613, Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS · lobbying firm or registrant: CAPITOL HILL POLICY GROUP LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 8, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$50,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Federal legislative and regulatory matters affecting the industry and the regulation of model aircraft and drones; H.R.6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act; FY2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R.9170); FY2027 National…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$266,000
Spent on own lobbying
…012); True Shutdown Fairness Act (H.R.7322); Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025 (H.R.6267); Recreational Drone Empowerment Act (H.R.6460); Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act (H.R.7501); Safe Skies Act of 2026 (H.R.7526); Airline Competition and Antitrust; Aviation Innovation and Gl…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICA · lobbying firm or registrant: AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICA
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$775,201
Spent on own lobbying
…t Infrastructure Act; H.R. 7613,ALERT Act, S. 2503, ROTOR Act H.R. 4146/S. 2175, Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act; S. 3700, FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 H.R. 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act; H.R. 6427, Airport Regulatory Relief Act H.R. 6168, Airport TIFIA Financing Certainty Act; H.R. 3754/S. 1966, Dont Miss Yo…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 16, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$1,172,100
Spent on own lobbying
…S. 3031, Keep America Flying Act of 2026 H.R. 5851, Keep America Flying Act of 2026 H.R. 4776, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act H.R. 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act H.R. 7553, Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act H.R. 7613, Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS · lobbying firm or registrant: CAPITOL HILL POLICY GROUP LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 14, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$50,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Federal legislative and regulatory matters affecting the industry and the regulation of model aircraft and drones; H.R.6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act; FY2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R.9170); FY2027 National…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$240,000
Spent on own lobbying
…012); True Shutdown Fairness Act (H.R.7322); Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025 (H.R.6267); Recreational Drone Empowerment Act (H.R.6460); Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act (H.R.7501)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$1,190,059
Spent on own lobbying
…S. 3031, Keep America Flying Act of 2026 H.R.5851, Keep America Flying Act of 2026 H.R. 4776, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act H.R. 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act H.R. 7553, Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act H.R. 7613, Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS · lobbying firm or registrant: CAPITOL HILL POLICY GROUP LLC
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 15, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$50,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…e and regulatory matters affecting the industry and the regulation of model aircraft and drones; H.R.1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L.119-21) implementation; H.R.6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act; FY2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R.4552/S.2465); H.R.7148,…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS · lobbying firm or registrant: CAPITOL HILL POLICY GROUP LLC
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Aviation/Airlines/Airports
$50,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…s Act (H.R.4552/S.2465); FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (S.2296/H.R.3838/P.L.119-60); H.R.1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L.119-21) implementation; H.R.6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing