By: Birdwell  S.B. No. 1197          (In the Senate - Filed February 10, 2025; February 28, 2025,   read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs;   April 1, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5,   Nays 0; April 1, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the operation of an unmanned aircraft over a spaceport;   creating a criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 42.15, Penal Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 42.15.  OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OVER AIRPORT,   [OR] MILITARY INSTALLATION, OR SPACEPORT.          SECTION 2.  Section 42.15(a), Penal Code, is amended by   adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:                (3)  "Spaceport" means any property or facility that   is:                      (A)  used for the launch, landing, or recovery of   spacecraft, as defined by Section 507.001, Local Government Code;   and                      (B)  licensed by the Federal Aviation   Administration or operated by a spaceport development corporation   under Chapter 507, Local Government Code.          SECTION 3.  Sections 42.15(b) and (c), Penal Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (b)  A person commits an offense if the person intentionally   or knowingly:                (1)  operates an unmanned aircraft over an airport,   [or] military installation, or spaceport;                (2)  allows an unmanned aircraft to make contact with   an airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport, including any   person or object on the premises of or within the airport, [or]   military installation, or spaceport; or                (3)  operates an unmanned aircraft in a manner that   interferes with the operations of or causes a disturbance to an   airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport.          (c)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that   the conduct described by Subsection (b) was engaged in by:                (1)  the federal government, this state, or a   governmental entity;                (2)  a person under contract with or otherwise acting   under the direction or on behalf of the federal government, this   state, or a governmental entity;                (3)  a law enforcement agency;                (4)  a person under contract with or otherwise acting   under the direction or on behalf of a law enforcement agency;                (5)  an owner or operator of the airport, [or] military   installation, or spaceport;                (6)  a person under contract with or otherwise acting   under the direction or on behalf of an owner or operator of the   airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport;                (7)  a person who has the prior written or electronic   authorization of:                      (A)  the owner or operator of the airport, [or]   military installation, or spaceport; or                      (B)  the Federal Aviation Administration; or                (8)  the owner or occupant of the property on which the   airport, [or] military installation, or spaceport is located or a   person who has the prior written consent of the owner or occupant of   that property.          SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.     An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is   governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For   purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the   effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred   before that date.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *