Indiana Lawmaker Fights to Keep Farm Protection Bill Alive

Bill aims to crack down on unauthorized drone use over farms and livestock facilities

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:15am

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An Indiana state lawmaker is working to keep a bill alive that would make it a felony to fly drones over farms and livestock facilities without permission. The bill was prompted by reports from poultry farmers in northeastern Indiana who saw strange drones flying over their properties, followed by outbreaks of bird flu that resulted in the loss of millions of birds.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation is an attempt to address growing concerns from farmers about the potential risks posed by unauthorized drone activity, including the spread of diseases that could devastate livestock operations. The issue highlights the challenges of balancing privacy, property rights, and public safety as drone technology becomes more prevalent.

The details

State Representative Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) introduced House Bill 1064, which would make it a felony to fly drones over farms and livestock facilities without permission. The bill was prompted by reports from poultry farmers in Jay and Adams counties who saw strange drones flying over their properties, followed by outbreaks of bird flu that resulted in the loss of millions of birds. Culp's bill was assigned to the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code, where a farmer testified about seeing a drone spraying a liquid substance into a neighboring poultry barn, leading to his daughter becoming ill and the farm experiencing a bird flu outbreak.

  • In 2025, poultry farmers in northeastern Indiana reported seeing strange drones flying over their properties.
  • Within a few days of the drone sightings, the poultry farms experienced outbreaks of bird flu that resulted in the loss of millions of birds.

The players

Kendell Culp

An Indiana state lawmaker who introduced House Bill 1064 to make it a felony to fly drones over farms and livestock facilities without permission.

Jay and Adams counties poultry farmers

Farmers in northeastern Indiana who reported seeing strange drones flying over their properties, followed by outbreaks of bird flu that resulted in the loss of millions of birds.

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What they’re saying

“Basically, if you have a drone on someone else's property without permission, and you're flying over a livestock facility—including farmers and their animals—that becomes a felony with higher penalties.”

— Kendell Culp, State Representative

“We had a farmer who testified that two miles north of him was a poultry farmer with two million birds, and two miles south of him was another poultry farmer with two million birds. The farmer says he saw a drone flying beside his building. The curtain was down and was spraying a liquid substance into the barn. The other thing was that his young daughter was out playing along the barn and she was sprayed as well. She was sick for the next week with respiratory issues, and within four days, they broke with bird flu. The result was they lost two million birds.”

— Kendell Culp, State Representative

What’s next

Culp is working to find another way to get his legislation pushed through during the shortened legislative session, as the bill did not advance in committee due to concerns about constitutional issues.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between farmers, drone operators, and policymakers as the use of drone technology becomes more widespread. The proposed legislation aims to protect farmers' privacy, property rights, and the biosecurity of their livestock operations, but it also raises questions about balancing these concerns with individual freedoms and technological advancements.