TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 23, 2026

A bill introduced last week would allow state prison staff to disable illegal drones that smuggle cell phones, drugs and other prohibited items into state prisons. Republican Sen. Tom Hatcher, a retired 10-year veteran sheriff’s deputy from Blount County, introduced SB1631, which also would make it a crime to fly an unmanned aircraft over a prison facility. Violators could face three to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, according to The Tennessean. The bill would cover state prisons, county jails and mental health institutions. Correction officials are seeking funding for department-operated drones to patrol prison perimeters, deter unauthorized drone flights and strengthen overall surveillance.