Local government officials could enact regulations to restrict drone use on Mackinac Island under a bill sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk this week.

On Tuesday, the Michigan Senate voted unanimously on final passage of Senate Bill 129, which would exempt Mackinac Island from a state ban on local governments regulating drone operations.

The bill is based off of recommendations from a task force that studied drone problems specific to Mackinac Island, a tourist hotspot in Northern Michigan where cars are not allowed and horses are regularly used for transportation.

Drones could startle the horses and potentially impact public safety, the task force found.

As passed, the bill would let Mackinac Island officials set in place an ordinance to prohibit knowingly using a drone to interfere with a horse. Any ordinance passed could not ban lawful use of drones by newsgatherers, insurers, utility companies or law enforcement, according to a House Fiscal Agency analysis.

The legislation needs to be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to become law.