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1 New Section; State Park System; Use of Drones in State Parks. Amend RSA 216-A by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
216-A:2-a Use of Drones in State Parks. A drone or small unmanned aircraft shall be permitted to operate in a state park, provided the operator is a person who possesses either a Federal Aviation Administration 14 C.F.R. Part 107 certificate or has passed the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).
I. The operator shall be permitted to launch and land small unmanned aircraft in state parks for commercial purposes as permitted under 14 C.F.R. part 107 and for recreational purposes as permitted under 49 U.S.C. section 44809, as amended, with the following exceptions where operation shall not be permitted:
(a) If the manner of flight intentionally interferes with the reasonable use and enjoyment of the park by other park users.
(b) Within the bounds of Cannon Mountain ski area during operating hours of ski season.
(c) Within the bounds of Flume Gorge during May through October (inclusive).
II. The commissioner may waive any exceptions in paragraph I for good cause.
III. A person who launches a small unmanned aircraft governed by this section shall be fully liable for injury or property damage negligently caused by their small unmanned aircraft.
IV. A person shall be responsible for the retrieval of their small unmanned aircraft which has launched from outside the state park and has landed in a state park. If the small unmanned aircraft system lands in an inaccessible location, the pilot shall notify a park official and may be assessed a retrieval fee of not more than $100, as established in rules of the department.
V. No person shall use a small unmanned aircraft system with the intent to conduct video surveillance of private citizens in state parks without prior written consent of the persons being surveilled.
VI. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 216-A:3-g, persons operating the small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes under 14 C.F.R. Part 107 may be assessed a fee by the department of natural and cultural affairs for each day of flight, not to exceed $25 per day and payable after the flight if immediate payment options are not made available by the commissioner. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A only for the assessment and payment of fees for operators of small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes.
VII. Any person who violates the provisions of this section may be fined by the commissioner a sum not to exceed $300, provided that a person who fails to retrieve a landed small unmanned aircraft may be fined not more than $100. Fines collected shall be credited to the state park fund.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Section; State Park System; Use of Drones in State Parks. Amend RSA 216-A by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
216-A:2-a Use of Drones in State Parks. A drone or small unmanned aircraft shall be permitted to operate in a state park, provided the operator is a person who possesses either a Federal Aviation Administration 14 C.F.R. Part 107 certificate or has passed the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).
I. The operator shall be permitted to launch and land small unmanned aircraft in state parks for commercial purposes as permitted under 14 C.F.R. part 107 and for recreational purposes as permitted under 49 U.S.C. section 44809, as amended, with the following exceptions where operation shall not be permitted:
(a) If the manner of flight intentionally interferes with the reasonable use and enjoyment of the park by other park users.
(b) Within the bounds of Cannon Mountain ski area during operating hours of ski season.
(c) Within the bounds of Flume Gorge during May through October (inclusive).
II. The commissioner may waive any exceptions in paragraph I for good cause.
III. A person who launches a small unmanned aircraft governed by this section shall be fully liable for injury or property damage negligently caused by their small unmanned aircraft.
IV. A person shall be responsible for the retrieval of their small unmanned aircraft which has launched from outside the state park and has landed in a state park. If the small unmanned aircraft system lands in an inaccessible location, the pilot shall notify a park official and may be assessed a retrieval fee of not more than $100, as established in rules of the department.
V. No person shall use a small unmanned aircraft system with the intent to conduct video surveillance of private citizens in state parks without prior written consent of the persons being surveilled.
VI. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 216-A:3-g, persons operating the small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes under 14 C.F.R. Part 107 may be assessed a fee by the department of natural and cultural affairs for each day of flight, not to exceed $25 per day and payable after the flight if immediate payment options are not made available by the commissioner. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A only for the assessment and payment of fees for operators of small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes.
VII. Any person who violates the provisions of this section may be fined by the commissioner a sum not to exceed $300, provided that a person who fails to retrieve a landed small unmanned aircraft may be fined not more than $100. Fines collected shall be credited to the state park fund.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.