NevadaAB43983rd Regular Session (2025)House

AN ACT relating to unmanned aerial vehicles; revising provisions concerning the purchase or acquisition of certain unmanned aerial vehicles or other related equipment or services under certain circumstances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Sponsored By: Lisa K. Cole (Republican)

Signed by Governor

BDR 44-896

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Clear limits on agency drone use

Starting July 1, 2025, the Department sets rules for when public agencies may use registered drones. Allowed public purposes include fire services, emergency medical help, protecting critical facilities, and search and rescue. The rules also allow scheduled building or fire-code inspections but ban taking photos, images, or recordings during those inspections. Any media taken in violation cannot be used in court or other proceedings (except for the inspection itself) and cannot be used to create reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

Public registry and yearly drone report

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department of Public Safety sets up a public registry of drones used by Nevada public agencies, if money is available. Agencies must file a form for each drone with the agency name, operator contact, drone ID, and how it will be used. The Department posts this information online. Each year, on or before February 1, the Department also sends a report on agency drone use to the Legislative Counsel Bureau for the Legislature, or to the Legislative Commission when the Legislature is not in session.

Stricter rules for agency drone purchases

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department creates two lists: (1) countries, businesses, and entities that agencies may not buy drones or related services from, and (2) drones, equipment, or services agencies may not buy, use, or operate. These lists must include entities named by the U.S. Secretary of Defense under the FY2021 defense law (Section 1260H) and updates, any drones or gear they make or sell, items already barred by Nevada’s Chief Information Officer, and any others the Department adds. An agency may buy from a listed vendor only if all drone data stays stored and maintained only in the United States, no third party can access it, the agency verifies the vendor’s policies before buying, and the purchase follows all federal law, including federal-fund limits. The law defines a “third party” to include foreign-based or foreign-organized persons or companies, but not a U.S. government entity. Agencies are encouraged, within Nevada procurement rules, to prioritize U.S.-made drones and gear.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lisa K. Cole

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 63 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/23/2025

Final Passage - Senate (2nd Reprint)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2025

Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint)

Yes: 42 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 317.

    6/6/2025legislature
  2. Approved by the Governor.

    6/5/2025legislature
  3. Enrolled and delivered to Governor.

    5/29/2025legislature
  4. Senate Amendment No. 599 concurred in. To enrollment.

    5/27/2025House
  5. In Assembly.

    5/26/2025House
  6. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.

    5/23/2025Senate
  7. Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.

    5/22/2025Senate
  8. Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.

    5/21/2025Senate
  9. Taken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.

    5/20/2025Senate
  10. From printer. To re-engrossment. Re-engrossed. Second reprint.

    5/20/2025Senate
  11. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 599.) To printer.

    5/19/2025Senate
  12. Placed on Second Reading File.

    5/19/2025Senate
  13. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.

    5/19/2025Senate
  14. Read first time. Referred to Committee on Growth and Infrastructure. To committee.

    4/29/2025Senate
  15. In Senate.

    4/28/2025Senate
  16. To Senate.

    4/25/2025House
  17. From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.

    4/25/2025House
  18. To printer.

    4/22/2025House
  19. Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.)

    4/22/2025House
  20. Dispensed with reprinting.

    4/21/2025House
  21. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 411.)

    4/21/2025House
  22. Placed on Second Reading File.

    4/21/2025House
  23. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.

    4/21/2025House
  24. From printer. To committee.

    3/18/2025House
  25. Read first time. Referred to Committee on Growth and Infrastructure. To printer.

    3/17/2025House

Bill Text

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