Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) have introduced the Drone Federalism Act, a bill to establish a process for federal, state and local governments to work together to manage the use of recreational and commercial drones.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) anticipates there will be up to 4 million drones in operation by 2020. Already, the FAA has registered more than 750,000 drone operators, far more than the 200,000 manned aircraft in the United States.

From September 2015 to September 2016, nearly 1,500 drone incidents were reported, including interference with emergency aircraft, unsafe proximity to airports and crash landings. In response, more than three dozen states are considering drone-related legislation this year.

“State, local and tribal governments have a legitimate interest in protecting public safety and privacy from the misuse of drones,” Feinstein said. “This bill allows communities to create low-altitude speed limits, local no-drone zones or rules that are appropriate to their own circumstances. We need prudent regulations that respond to the variety of new risks that drones present. Our bill provides an affirmative, bipartisan solution.”

In April 2016, Feinstein, Lee and Blumenthal led the effort to defeat a provision of the FAA reauthorization bill that would have preempted almost all state or local laws on drones, a standard much stricter than what has been enacted for airplanes. The Drone Federalism Act would create a flexible framework for collaboration among all levels of government, Feinstein said.

The bill recognizes the FAA’s general authority over the national airspace while preserving the authority of state, local and tribal governments to issue reasonable restrictions on the time, manner and place of drone operations within 200 feet of the ground or a structure. These could include low-altitude speed limits, local no-fly zones, temporary restrictions and prohibitions on reckless or drunk operators.

The bill reaffirms that the federal government will respect private property rights to the airspace immediately above a property, including the first 200 feet. The bill also promotes cooperation between levels of government by directing the FAA to partner with cities and states to test different approaches, inform the unmanned traffic management pilot program and report best practices.

The bill does not affect manned aviation.