HOUSE BILL NO. 5321

December 02, 2025, Introduced by Reps. Meerman, Steckloff, Conlin, Woolford, Robinson, Pavlov, Thompson, T. Carter, Mentzer, Arbit, Breen, Cavitt, Frisbie, Aragona, Hoadley, Bruck, Martin, BeGole, Martus, Alexander, Kelly, Liberati, Herzberg, McFall, Schriver, Kunse, Markkanen and Bierlein and referred to Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

A bill to restrict the operation of unmanned vehicles by creating a state geofencing database; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; and to prescribe penalties.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "state geofencing act".

Sec. 3. As used in this act:

(a) "Department" means the state transportation department.

(b) "Restricted zone" means a flight path, takeoff or landing zone, or any other restricted area.

(c) "Unmanned aircraft" means that term as defined in section 3 of the unmanned aircraft systems act, 2016 PA 436, MCL 259.303.

(d) "Unmanned vehicle" means any of the following:

(i) An unmanned aircraft.

(ii) An unmanned ground vehicle.

(iii) An unmanned watercraft or submersible.

Sec. 5. (1) The department shall create and maintain a state geofencing database of restricted zones in which an unmanned vehicle must not be operated. The state geofencing database must be publicly accessible on a website operated by the department. The state geofencing database must, to the maximum extent possible, be made compatible with unmanned vehicle geofencing hardware and software.

(2) The department shall determine restricted zones in this state. A restricted zone may include any of the following, as determined by the department:

(a) State-owned property or critical infrastructure.

(b) Local-government-owned property or critical infrastructure.

(d) A key facility, as defined in section 552c of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.552c.

(3) The department shall contract for, purchase, or develop a mobile phone application that an individual must use when operating an unmanned vehicle. The mobile phone application must integrate the state geofencing database and provide notice to the operator of an unmanned vehicle when that unmanned vehicle is approaching or is violating a restricted zone.

Sec. 7. (1) An individual shall not operate an unmanned vehicle if the unmanned vehicle is in a restricted zone.

(2) An individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,500.00, or both.

Sec. 9. This act applies only to the extent that this act is not preempted by federal law.