{"id":"d0345b8b-03cf-484f-ba59-fab51a6f6416","slug":"texas-drone-privacy-act","kind":"data_protection","headline":"Texas Privacy Act / drone image-capture law (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423)","summary":"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.","locationId":"45f67762-10f4-4255-be84-45c73efe25f9","effectiveAt":"2013-09-01T12:00:00.000Z","expiresAt":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","formFactors":["aerial"],"aliases":["Texas Privacy Act","Texas drone law","Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423","HB 912"],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:22.636Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:22.636Z","location":{"id":"45f67762-10f4-4255-be84-45c73efe25f9","name":"Texas","slug":"texas","kind":"state","parentLocationId":"aa8b9c05-c836-4021-801f-59801970401e","lat":null,"lng":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","aliases":["TX"],"collisionRisk":"high","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-31T04:22:22.644Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-31T04:22:22.644Z"},"derived":{"status":"in_effect"},"sources":[{"id":"fba632c4-0d45-46f8-81b9-7b1fb7bcc7c6","regulationId":"d0345b8b-03cf-484f-ba59-fab51a6f6416","url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/gv/htm/gv.423.htm","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423 - Use of Unmanned Aircraft (codified)","sourceName":"Texas Legislature (official)","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:23.175Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:23.175Z"},{"id":"d38e5e3d-2690-4dfb-9edd-8b7681d77efa","regulationId":"d0345b8b-03cf-484f-ba59-fab51a6f6416","url":"https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/analysis/html/SB02569F.htm","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"Texas UAS legislative analysis (Ch. 423 context)","sourceName":"Texas Legislature (official)","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:23.253Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:23.253Z"},{"id":"94c82b18-c265-4d0f-9e21-5f37a1a0cce4","regulationId":"d0345b8b-03cf-484f-ba59-fab51a6f6416","url":"https://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2013/government-code/title-4/subtitle-b/chapter-423","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 423 (2013 original enactment)","sourceName":"Justia (codified statute)","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:23.332Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:23.332Z"}],"statusEvents":[{"id":"5ef6a7eb-4110-4605-a0f4-65b778b91008","regulationId":"d0345b8b-03cf-484f-ba59-fab51a6f6416","status":"in_effect","reason":"Texas drone image-capture law (Gov't Code Ch. 423 / HB 912) in effect since 2013; amended later sessions (incl. 2017 critical-infrastructure additions).","source":"editor:DEPLOY content-agent (Sprint 5b-3 drone + PDD state laws)","effectiveAt":"2013-09-01T12:00:00.000Z","createdAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:23.410Z"}]}