Gallagher Introduces Bill to Strengthen Drone Safety as Airspace Risks Rise
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman James Gallagher (CA-01) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) together introduced H.R. 10304, the Drone Safety Statement Modernization Act, legislation to make sure drone operators know the rules before they take off. The bill would modernize federal safety requirements as drones become increasingly common in America’s skies.
“When a wildfire is burning, our firefighters should be focused on putting it out, not worrying about a drone getting in their flight path. We’ve already seen aerial firefighting operations delayed or grounded because drones were in the airspace over the Dixie and Palisades Fires,” Rep. Gallagher said. “Firefighters need to reach these fires in their early stages and launch air attacks without interruption. This bill ensures drone operators know the rules before they take off and is a commonsense step in keeping our skies and firefighters safe.”
"The Drone Safety Statement Modernization Act will help Southern Nevada prepare for major events like Formula One and the Super Bowl," said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01). "This legislation would require drone operators to receive the most-up-to-date safety information on this quickly evolving technology. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, one of my top priorities is maintaining the United States's global leadership in the development and deployment of unmanned systems while also keeping our skies and communities safe. This legislation does just that."
The legislation would require small drone manufacturers to provide operators with up to date safety information when a drone is first activated and require the operator to acknowledge that they have read and understand it. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would be responsible for developing and regularly updating the safety requirements.
The danger is not hypothetical. A single drone in restricted airspace can ground firefighting aircraft and delay critical operations while a wildfire continues to burn. During the 2025 Palisades Fire, a civilian drone collided with a water-dropping Super Scooper, leaving a football-sized hole in its wing and grounding the aircraft.
Read more about the Palisades Fire incident
“Flying a drone comes with a responsibility to know where you can fly and how to do it safely," Rep. Gallagher continued. "We've seen what can happen when a drone gets somewhere it shouldn't be. It can put pilots in danger and even force firefighters out of the sky when every second matters. This bill is pretty simple: know the rules before you take off."
Unauthorized drones have also created challenges around major events. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, federal authorities seized more than 700 unauthorized drones operating in restricted airspace across 11 U.S. host cities. The FAA established nearly 250 temporary flight restrictions as part of the security operation.
Read the FAA’s World Cup report
Under the Drone Safety Statement Modernization Act, safety statements would provide operators with information about applicable flight rules and airspace restrictions, as well as how to determine whether a flight is lawful. Operators would also receive information about the potential consequences of unsafe or unlawful drone operations.
The bill directs the FAA to review the safety requirements annually and update them when necessary to keep pace with changing technology and airspace risks.
Read the Drone Safety Statement Modernization Act HERE.
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Rep. James Gallagher | 408 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US