In 2013 the Texas Legislature passed an unmanned aircraft statue limiting surveillance by drones to obtain images over privately-owned property.  Exceptions were allowed for research, satellite mapping and other justifiable and legitimate applications.  The law was successfully challenged by associations representing media alleging violation of the First Amendment and that the law was overly broad and unconstitutionally vague.

The law would have prevented animal rights organization from using drones for the purposes of surveillance of CAFOs, determining the extent of outside access for chickens and possible contraventions of environmental regulations.