VirginiaUnmanned aircraft systems; use by law-enforcement officers, search warrants.
What it does
Use of unmanned aircraft systems by law-enforcement officers; search warrants; model policy. Expedites the issuance of a search warrant for unmanned aircraft systems by law-enforcement officers upon a finding of reasonable and probable cause by an authorized judicial official, as defined in the bill, and permits the use of unmanned aircraft systems without a search warrant when law enforcement is surveying the scene of a crime or to respond to a public safety call for service when such crime scene or call for service is located on public property, to locate a person when such person has fled the offense location during the initial response to an incident, or to provide real-time aerial observation to increase on-scene safety and security. Such provisions are subject to a reenactment clause.
More detail
The bill also requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in consultation with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, to establish a model policy for the use of unmanned aircraft systems by December 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 1219.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 6Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0271)Latest
- Apr 6Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 271 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 18Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB647)
- Mar 14Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 14Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Minor
- Mar 12Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 12Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 12Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB647ER)Major
- Mar 12EnrolledMinor
- Mar 6House amendment agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded Concur House Amendment R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Passed House with amendment (99-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
- Mar 4Passed House with amendment (97-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed House
- Mar 4Engrossed by House as amended
- Mar 4committee amendment agreed toMajor
- Mar 4Read third timeMinor
- Mar 3Read second timeMinor
- Mar 2Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 24Read first timeMinor
- Feb 24Placed on Calendar
- Feb 17Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB647)
- Feb 16Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 16Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 13Rules suspended
- Feb 12Committee substitute printed 26106981D-S1Major
- Feb 11Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 1-N 1-A)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Senate committee offered
- Jan 14Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 14Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103704DIntroduced