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Drone bill alive though significantly changed

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March 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill to place restrictions on the use of unmanned aerial drones in Iowa continues to move through the Legislature after approval of an amendment by a Senate subcommittee. The House passed a much more restrictive bill last week. The Senate’s version makes operating a drone in a way that violates one’s privacy a violation of the state’s trespassing law.

The bill considers use of a drone trespassing if it “intrudes upon the legitimate privacy interests in, on, or around private property that is not normally open to the public” or places where the public is not typically invited. The bill is likely to be considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and is expected to pass the Senate and move back to the House for reconsideration.