This bill aims to make it easier for commercial drone companies to operate drones beyond the operator's line of sight. It requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish new rules and processes to approve drones for these long-distance flights, as well as create a new office focused on drone integration.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill aims to make it easier for commercial drone companies to operate drones beyond the operator's line of sight. It requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish new rules and processes to approve drones for these long-distance flights, as well as create a new office focused on drone integration.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023</strong></p><p>This bill establishes and extends certain rules and authorities related to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and operations.</p><p>Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a regulatory pathway for certification or approval of UAS to enable commercial beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, including a risk assessment methodology.</p><p>Additionally, the bill establishes the Office of Associate Administrator of UAS Integration within the FAA. Among other duties, the office must (1) ensure and oversee the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace system, and (2) encourage and facilitate a commercially viable UAS industry and the leadership of the United States in UAS.</p><p>The bill also establishes the UAS Certification Unit to develop and implement the UAS certification or approval processes for BVLOS operations.</p><p>The bill extends the FAA's UAS Test Site Program, which provides verification of the safety of public and civil UAS, operations, and related navigation procedures before their integration into the national airspace system. The bill also modifies the program to require the FAA to use modeling and simulation tools to assist in the testing, evaluation, verification, and validation of UAS.</p><p>Further, the bill extends the special authority for the Department of Transportation to provide exemptions from some requirements for UAS by using a risk-based approach to determine if certain UAS may operate safely in the national airspace system. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Establishes a regulatory pathway for the FAA to certify or approve drones for commercial 'beyond visual line of sight' operations
Creates the Office of Associate Administrator of UAS Integration within the FAA to oversee drone integration and support the commercial drone industry
Extends the FAA's UAS Test Site Program to continue testing and validating drone safety before integration into the national airspace
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill would primarily impact commercial drone companies and the FAA. If passed, it could lead to more widespread use of drones for deliveries, inspections, and other commercial applications that require flying beyond the operator's line of sight. This could provide new business opportunities and cost savings, but also raises privacy and safety concerns that would need to be carefully addressed.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Transportation and Public Works
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
3459, 119th Congress (2025). "Empty Lots to Housing Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-3459
