Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023
Latest action · Oct 3, 2023 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedOct 3, 2023
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study, and create an approval process for, nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones). Under the bill, nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft means an unmanned aircraft that is equipped with one or more nonlethal weapons or devices and is used by law enforcement personnel in scenarios (1) that present significant risk to human life, and (2) in which the suspected criminal is in a position to potentially escalate the situation and expose human life to a high level of risk.
Specifically, the FAA must initiate a pilot research program to study the potential use of nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft by law enforcement agencies. As part of the study, the FAA must enter into interagency agreements with various federal, state, and local agencies.
The FAA must submit a report on the results of the research program to Congress. The report must include a plan outlining a proposed FAA application process for law enforcement to seek permission to operate nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft.
Within 90 days of submitting the report, the FAA must initiate rulemaking to create a process through which the FAA may provide approval to operate these unmanned aircraft.
Cosponsors 26
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Oct 3, 2023 to Apr 29, 2024; 6 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-MN | Brad Finstad | Original | Oct 3, 2023 |
| R-LA | Clay Higgins | Original | Oct 3, 2023 |
| D-NC | Donald G. Davis | Original | Oct 3, 2023 |
| R-MS | Michael Guest | Original | Oct 3, 2023 |
| R-MN | Pete Stauber | Original | Oct 3, 2023 |
| R-TX | Wesley Hunt | Original | Oct 3, 2023 |
| R-AZ | Debbie Lesko | Oct 26, 2023 | |
| D-TX | Jasmine Crockett | Oct 26, 2023 | |
| R-FL | John H. Rutherford | Oct 26, 2023 | |
| R-MS | Mike Ezell | Oct 26, 2023 | |
| R-SC | Russell Fry | Nov 3, 2023 | |
| R-WI | Derrick Van Orden | Nov 30, 2023 | |
| R-NJ | Thomas H. Kean, Jr. | Nov 30, 2023 | |
| R-UT | Burgess Owens | Dec 12, 2023 | |
| R-AL | Barry Moore | Jan 29, 2024 | |
| R-NE | Mike Flood | Jan 29, 2024 | |
| R-MT | Ryan K. Zinke | Jan 31, 2024 | |
| R-WA | Dan Newhouse | Feb 13, 2024 | |
| R-TX | Beth Van Duyne | Feb 15, 2024 | |
| R-TX | Brian Babin | Feb 15, 2024 | |
| R-TX | Jake Ellzey | Feb 15, 2024 | |
| R-TX | Randy K. Weber, Sr. | Feb 15, 2024 | |
| R-UT | Celeste Maloy | Feb 29, 2024 | |
| R-CO | Lauren Boebert | Mar 6, 2024 | |
| R-TX | Lance Gooden | Apr 9, 2024 | |
| R-PA | Lloyd Smucker | Apr 29, 2024 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Science, Space, and Technology Committee | Referred Oct 3, 2023 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Oct 3, 2023Introduced in House
- Oct 3, 2023Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 169, no. 162, October 3, 2023, page H4987.
CRS reports 1
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 1
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R48365 | Law Enforcement Use of Less-than-Lethal Weapons: Considerations for Congress | Report | Jan 23, 2025 |
Titles 2
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To amend title 49, United States Code, to permit small, unmanned aircraft pilot research for public safety, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Transportation and Public Works.
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Oct 3, 2023Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
