The operation of an unmanned aircraft over a spaceport; creating a criminal offense

Texas House Bill 3272 (HB3272) aimed to make it illegal to fly drones over spaceports in Texas. The bill defined a spaceport as a facility used for launching, landing, or recovering spacecraft, licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration or operated by a spaceport development corporation. Under this bill, intentionally flying a drone over a spaceport, allowing a drone to touch the spaceport or anything on its premises, or operating a drone in a way that interferes with spaceport operations would be considered a criminal offense. The bill was introduced on February 25, 2025, but was laid on the table subject to call on April 28, 2025, meaning it did not progress further in the legislative process.

Supporters of HB3272 argued that the bill was necessary to address growing national security risks and air traffic safety hazards posed by drones flying over sensitive facilities like spaceports. They highlighted incidents where unidentified drones operated in restricted airspace, raising concerns about espionage, interference with flight operations, and potential threats to critical infrastructure. By expanding existing laws that prohibit drone operations over airports and military installations to include spaceports, the bill aimed to enhance the safety and security of these facilities.

Critics of HB3272 expressed concerns that the bill could impose overly restrictive regulations on drone operators, potentially stifling innovation and the growth of the drone industry in Texas. They argued that existing federal regulations already address many of the safety and security issues related to drone operations and that additional state-level restrictions might create confusion and compliance challenges for drone operators. Some also questioned whether the bill's provisions were necessary, given the limited number of spaceports in Texas and the relatively low incidence of drone-related incidents at these facilities.