DEPLOYDatabase

Regulation · Data protection

Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423)

Texas's drone law (Texas Government Code Chapter 423, 'Use of Unmanned Aircraft'), created by HB 912 (83rd Legislature, 2013) and amended in later sessions. It is primarily a privacy/image-capture statute (capturing images of individuals or private property with intent to surveil is restricted, with a lawful-use list and evidentiary suppression), with some critical-infrastructure flyover restrictions added in 2017. Distinct from Texas's separate autonomous-ground-vehicle law and sidewalk-PDD law.

Jurisdiction: United States/Texas · Effective 2013-09-01

Machine-readable surfaces

Sources (3)

  1. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/gv/htm/gv.423.htm
  2. https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/analysis/html/SB02569F.htm
  3. https://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2013/government-code/title-4/subtitle-b/chapter-423

Status history

  • In effect · 2013-09-01 · editor:DEPLOY content-agent (Sprint 5b-3 drone + PDD state laws)

    Texas drone image-capture law (Gov't Code Ch. 423 / HB 912) in effect since 2013; amended later sessions (incl. 2017 critical-infrastructure additions).

Common questions

What does Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) cover?
Texas's drone law (Texas Government Code Chapter 423, 'Use of Unmanned Aircraft'), created by HB 912 (83rd Legislature, 2013) and amended in later sessions. It is primarily a privacy/image-capture statute (capturing images of individuals or private property with intent to surveil is restricted, with a lawful-use list and evidentiary suppression), with some critical-infrastructure flyover restrictions added in 2017. Distinct from Texas's separate autonomous-ground-vehicle law and sidewalk-PDD law.
Where does Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) apply?
Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) is recorded as a data_protection applying in Texas on the DEPLOY registry.
When did Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) take effect?
Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) is recorded as effective September 1, 2013 on the DEPLOY registry.
Is Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) still in effect?
Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) is currently in effect and applies to covered operators in the named jurisdiction.
What types of robots does Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) apply to?
Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423) is recorded as applying to drones on the DEPLOY registry.
Methodology: Verified · 3 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-05-31

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-05-31

Architectural position

Cohort: aerial

Sources by quality tier

3
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423).

Canonical ID d0345b8b-03cf-484f-ba59-fab51a6f6416