Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2026

Pilot for nonlethal police drones

If enacted, the bill would require the FAA Administrator to start a pilot program within 2 months to test nonlethal drones for active shooter responses. The pilot would review and validate nonlethal weapons, set training and safety protocols, and assess indoor effectiveness and standoff benefits. The FAA would work with existing UAS test ranges and may make agreements with DOJ, DHS, and State law enforcement. The FAA would report results to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee within 3 months after the pilot ends and would start rulemaking within 60 days of that report to create approval processes for law enforcement and manufacturers. Drones used in the pilot would have to be manufactured in the United States under FTC rules. The bill would also define key terms and reaffirm the existing ban on arming drones with dangerous weapons.