Unmanned aircraft systems; use by public bodies, certain employees.
Summary
Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; employees. Allows a law-enforcement officer or an employee of a law-enforcement agency to deploy an unmanned aircraft system without a warrant (i) following an accident where a report is required pursuant to relevant law to survey the scene of such accident for the purpose of crash reconstruction and record the scene by photographic or video images or (ii) to (a) aerially survey a primary residence of the subject of the arrest warrant to formulate a plan to execute an existing arrest warrant or capias for a felony offense or (b) locate a person sought for arrest when such person has fled from a law-enforcement officer and a law-enforcement officer remains in hot pursuit of such person. Current law allows a law-enforcement officer to operate an unmanned aircraft system under such conditions. The bill also permits a law-enforcement officer to deploy an unmanned aircraft system without a warrant where such officer is investigating unmanned aircraft systems surrounding or over property of the federal or state government, public critical infrastructure, or nongovernment-operated prison or jail facilities.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025
Signed Mar 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Chaptered
·
2 edits
MINOR
This bill finalizes the legislative text for HB 2177, adding the official chapter number and approval date. The substantive policy content regarding drone usage by law enforcement remains unchanged from the enrolled version, preserving existing restrictions and specific exceptions for warrants, emergencies, and training.
TECHNICAL
Added the official chapter number (Chapter 400) and the specific approval date (March 24, 2025) to convert the bill from an enrolled draft to a finalized law.
Removed the placeholder text 'Approved' and replaced it with the specific date of approval, which is a standard formatting step during the final enactment of a bill.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2025
How they voted
40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Feb 19, 2025
D
Democratic21
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
13
Committee
6
Amendments
4
Mar 24, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 400 (Effective 07/01/25)
executive
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2177ER)
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Amendments agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendments (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendments waived
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (99-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Wendell Walker
RRepublican
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