AB 1749: Interfering with wildfire suppression and emergency responses with drone.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law makes it a crime for a person to operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of an emergency for the purpose of viewing the scene or emergency or military personnel, and thereby impede the emergency or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law excuses a local public entity or public employee from liability for damage to an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system, if the damage was caused while the local public entity or public employee of a local public entity was providing, and the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system was interfering with, the operation, support, or enabling of any emergency service, as specified. Existing law makes everyone responsible for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their property or person, as provided.

This bill would prohibit a person from operating or using an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone to knowingly or recklessly interfere with, among other things, a wildfire suppression or law enforcement or emergency response efforts related to a wildfire suppression. The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a county counsel or city attorney to bring civil action to enforce the prohibition and authorize a prevailing plaintiff to recover civil penalties, injunctive relief, or reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, as specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 29, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 762, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 29, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 762, Statutes of 2026.
3. September 29, 2026Approved by the Governor.
4. September 29, 2026Approved by the Governor.
5. August 28, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
6. August 28, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
7. August 24, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6402.).
8. August 24, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6402.).
9. August 20, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
10. August 20, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
11. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5589.).
12. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).