Unmanned aircraft.

Senator Wahab's comprehensive drone regulation measure establishes new requirements for residential property insurers using unmanned aircraft while creating restrictions around critical infrastructure and state facilities. The legislation requires insurers to provide 30-day advance notice before conducting aerial imaging of insured properties and allows policyholders 120 days to address any contract compliance issues identified during drone inspections before policy termination.

The bill creates new infractions for operating drones near critical infrastructure facilities, including refineries, power plants, and dams, as well as specific state buildings in Sacramento. Operators must maintain minimum distances of 400 feet from critical facilities and 50 feet from designated state properties, with violations carrying $1,000 fines. Exceptions exist for government entities, authorized contractors, and commercial operators complying with federal aviation rules.

Additional provisions make it a misdemeanor to use drones for surveillance or threatening activities over school grounds and increase penalties for drone operation over state prisons to $1,000. The legislation requires insurers to destroy drone-collected evidence within 90 days unless needed for fraud investigation, legal compliance, or other specified purposes. The Joint Rules Committee of the Legislature must establish drone operation policies for state facilities in consultation with the California Highway Patrol.