A bill authored by State Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, that would regulate the use of drones near state correctional facilities unanimously passed the Senate on Monday.

Senate Bill 182 would amend Indiana Criminal Code to make it a crime for someone to use a drone to deliver contraband to an inmate or intentionally obstruct or interfere with a correctional officer’s, including a county jail officer’s, duties at a state correctional facility.

The Indiana Department of Correction reported more than 30 drone sightings in 2023 and over a dozen confirmed drone drops of contraband inside state correctional facilities. One report detailed a drone and package being recovered on the grounds of an Indiana correctional facility. The bag contained tobacco, six cell phones, four chargers and marijuana.

“These drones are not only breaching security at our correctional facilities but endangering everyone there and nearby by dropping illegal contraband to convicted criminals,” Koch said. “I am pleased to see my Senate colleagues unanimously pass this important legislation to better protect our correctional facilities, and I look forward to seeing it considered in the House.”

The Federal Aviation Administration has not included state correctional facilities in federal law to protect state correctional facilities’ air space. There is also no Indiana state law to prevent drones from flying above our correctional facilities. Indiana would join approximately 20 other states in enacting similar laws.

SB 182 will now move to the Indiana House of Representatives for further consideration. To learn more about this and other legislation Koch is authoring this legislative session, visit iga.in.gov.

Koch serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Utilities, ranking member of the Senate committees on Judiciary and Commerce and Technology, and as a member of the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. Koch can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 800-382-9467.