On June 18, 2025, Louisiana took a groundbreaking step in drone security by becoming the first U.S. state to grant local and state law enforcement the authority to directly intercept and disable drones posing credible threats to public safety. The newly signed “We Will Act” Act, introduced by Governor Jeff Landry, allows specially trained officers to use both kinetic and non-kinetic mitigation technologies to neutralize unlawful drone activity near high-risk areas such as schools, prisons, public events, and critical infrastructure.
“This law puts Louisiana on the front lines of drone defense,” said Governor Landry during the bill signing. “We are taking bold steps now to protect our people and our skies before tragedy strikes.”
[Source: Louisiana Governor's Office]
[Image Source: Governor Landry Signs HB 261]
A First-of-Its-Kind Local Mitigation Measure
Until now, local agencies have primarily focused on drone detection and situational awareness, often relying on federal partners to address mitigation. Louisiana’s new legislation changes that dynamic, giving law enforcement a more active role in protecting their communities from aerial threats.
The law introduces meaningful consequences for unauthorized drone activity, including fines of up to $5,000, potential jail time, and mandatory drone forfeiture.
A Growing Need for Local Response
Across the country, drone-related incidents near sensitive sites—including prisons, stadiums, and energy facilities—are on the rise. Louisiana’s move reflects growing pressure at the local level for faster response capabilities to evolving drone threats.
By authorizing local police to take direct action, the state is signaling a shift toward faster, more localized escalation paths when drone activity crosses into dangerous territory.
Governor Landry emphasized the urgency:
“The sheriffs have had to deal with this—drone activities dropping things into the prisons. It is absolutely a problem in this state, and we’re one of the first states to actually be taking some action against it.”
Setting New Expectations
Louisiana’s action could influence how other states and municipalities approach drone security moving forward. While it’s too early to predict widespread adoption, the legislation sets a new precedent that may:
- Encourage other states to explore more proactive drone response measures.
- Push local agencies to develop mitigation training programs and operational protocols.
- Expand expectations for security technology providers to support real-time, actionable drone intelligence at the local level.
The “We Will Act” Act elevates the conversation from simply tracking drones to actively preparing to counter them. Agencies and organizations may soon need to consider not just how they detect drones, but also how quickly they can verify threats and escalate response measures on site.
How AirSight Supports the Evolving Mission
As local drone response capabilities grow, the foundation remains the same: accurate, real-time drone detection.
AirSight’s AirGuard platform is purpose-built to help law enforcement and security teams track drones in real time, visualize flight paths, identify drone models and pilot locations, and receive live alerts when drones enter restricted airspace.
Whether or not mitigation is authorized, AirGuard equips security teams with the situational awareness they need to make fast, informed decisions—from observing low-risk flights to escalating threats that require immediate attention.
As laws like Louisiana’s continue to shape expectations, AirGuard provides the essential tools for proactive airspace security today—and scalable intelligence for the potential response measures of tomorrow.
