# 119-hr-3598: Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025

119-hr-3598, Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX); status in_committee (as of 2026-08-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3598
- As of: 2026-08-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3598
- Congress: 119
- Title: Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-05-23
- Sponsor: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 24
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-22

## Summary

**Would create a pilot program testing nonlethal deescalation drones for active shooter response.** It directs the FAA to review and validate nonlethal unmanned aircraft systems, set training and safety protocols, evaluate indoor effectiveness, and begin rulemaking after the pilot. - Federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement could participate in tests of drones that carry nonlethal tools and sensors for active shooter incidents. The program would set training, operational, and safety protocols for operators and supervising agencies. - Communities could see responses that increase the safe engagement distance between officers and shooters, aiming to reduce immediate risk to officers and bystanders during active shooter events. - Only unmanned aircraft manufactured in the United States would be eligible for use in the pilot, creating testing and validation opportunities for domestic manufacturers and demonstrations under later rulemaking. - The FAA would run the pilot with designated UAS test ranges and may work with the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, solicit stakeholder input, and report results to inform a process for approving operations and manufacturer testing.

## Cosponsors (24)

- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1] (R-MN), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (R-LA), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4] (R-CO), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] (R-MN), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] (R-WA), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1] (R-MT), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8] (R-WI), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2] (R-UT), 2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4] (R-MS), 2025-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38] (R-TX), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5] (R-FL), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2] (R-TN), 2025-06-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3] (R-MS), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24] (R-TX), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] (R-TX), 2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1] (R-AZ), 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] (R-WI), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] (R-OH), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3] (R-WI), 2025-12-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ), 2026-08-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Keeps ban on weaponized drones: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would reaffirm the current federal ban on arming drones with dangerous weapons. This ban would stay in place while the FAA tests nonlethal de‑escalation drones.
- Pilot and approvals for nonlethal police drones: benefit, medium. If enacted, the FAA would start a pilot within 2 months. It would test nonlethal drones for Federal, State, local, and Tribal police during active shooter events. The pilot would review weapon validation, training, and safety rules, and get input from stakeholders. It would measure how well drones…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-2189: To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes.
- 119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act
- 119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.
- 119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hres-166: Expressing support for the Iranian people's desires for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran, and condemning the Iranian regime's terrorism,…
- 119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-3598 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3598)

## Related
- [119-hr-2189: To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology an…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2189)
- [119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-425)
- [119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-719)
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hres-166: Expressing support for the Iranian people's desires for a democratic, secular,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-166)
- [119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-987)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3598 (as of 2026-08-22).