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 SB 647.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 6Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0270)Latest
- Apr 6Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 270 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 25Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 25Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026Minor
- Mar 18Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1219)
- Mar 14Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 14Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 14Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1219ER)Major
- Mar 14EnrolledMinor
- Mar 9Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Read third timeMinor
- Mar 6Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Mar 5Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 5Rules suspended
- Mar 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 18Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 18Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 17Fiscal Impact statement From DPB (2/17/2026 3:20 pm)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 17Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed House
- Feb 16committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Read first timeMinor
- Feb 11Committee substitute printed 26106525D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Feb 6Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6House subcommittee offered
- Jan 23Assigned HCJ sub: CriminalMinor
- Jan 14Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 14Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103614DIntroduced