H.R. 5040House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

AIR Safety Act of 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 9:27 AM UTC

The AIR Safety Act of 2020 requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conduct a study on how unauthorized drone flights interfere with federal wildfire‑suppression efforts on lands managed by the Interior and Agriculture departments. The study will examine recent incidents, their impact on firefighting time, effectiveness and costs, and will explore ways to prevent such incursions. Findings and recommendations must be reported to relevant House and Senate committees within 18 months of the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

BLM Director, in consultation with the Forest Service chief, FAA administrator, and the National Association of State Foresters, must carry out the study.
The study will count drone incursions over the five most recent calendar years and assess how each incident affected suppression duration, aerial firefighting effectiveness, and federal expenses.
It will evaluate prevention options, including temporary flight restrictions by the FAA and public education about drone impacts on wildfires.
A comprehensive report with findings and recommendations must be submitted to the House Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure committees and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation committees within 18 months of enactment.

Legislative Activity

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19 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate.

December 11, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 12, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Natural Resources Committee

November 12, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

November 26, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

December 4, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

June 18, 2020

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

July 29, 2020

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

July 29, 2020

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

July 29, 2020

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-606, Part I.

Natural Resources Committee

December 2, 2020

HouseCommittee

Committee on Agriculture discharged.

Agriculture Committee

December 2, 2020

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 499.

December 2, 2020

HouseFloor

Mr. Huffman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

December 10, 2020 • 9:50 AM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7121-7122)

December 10, 2020 • 9:50 AM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5040.

December 10, 2020 • 9:51 AM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

December 10, 2020 • 9:57 AM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7127-7128)

December 10, 2020 • 11:27 AM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 382 - 6 (Roll no. 243).(text: CR H7121)

View vote Passed

December 10, 2020 • 12:07 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 382 - 6 (Roll no. 243). (text: CR H7121)

View vote Passed

December 10, 2020 • 12:07 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

December 10, 2020 • 12:07 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate.

December 11, 2020

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

December 10, 2020 at 12:04 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

382 - 6

Bill Text

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Received in SenateIssued December 11, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5040

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 11, 2020

Received

AN ACT

To direct the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to study the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Aerial Incursion Repercussion Safety Act of 2020 or the AIR Safety Act of 2020.

Study on effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression

(a)

Study required

The Director of the Bureau of Land Management, in consultation with the Chief of the Forest Service, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Association of State Foresters, shall conduct a study on the effects of drone incursions on the suppression of wildfires with respect to lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.

(b)

Study contents

In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Director shall—

(1)

determine, for each of the five most recently completed calendar years, the number of occurrences in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression and the effect of each such occurrence on—

(A)

the length of time required to achieve complete suppression;

(B)

the effectiveness of aerial firefighting responses; and

(C)

the amounts expended by the Federal Government; and

(2)

evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various actions to prevent drone incursions, including—

(A)

temporary flight restrictions of the Federal Aviation Administration; and

(B)

the dissemination of education materials relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression.

(c)

Report

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the findings of the study required under subsection (a) and any recommendations of the Director relating to such findings.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Drone

The term drone means an unmanned aircraft system, as defined in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code, owned by a private individual or entity.

(2)

Drone incursion

The term drone incursion means the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire.

(3)

Wildfire suppression

The term wildfire suppression has the meaning given such term in section 46320(d) of title 49, United States Code.

Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 2020.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk