VirginiaHB21772025 Regular SessionHouse

Unmanned aircraft systems; use by public bodies, certain employees.

Sponsored By: Wendell S. Walker (Republican)

To Governor

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.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Wendell S. Walker

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 417 • No: 0

House vote • 2/20/2025

Senate Amendments agreed to by House

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/19/2025

Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/18/2025

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/17/2025

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote • 2/4/2025

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote • 2/4/2025

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 1/29/2025

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote • 1/24/2025

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 8 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0400)

    3/24/2025Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 400 (Effective 07/01/25)

    3/24/2025Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025

    3/11/2025Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025

    3/11/2025House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2177)

    3/10/2025House
  6. Signed by President

    3/10/2025Senate
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2177ER)

    3/7/2025House
  8. Enrolled

    3/7/2025House
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/7/2025House
  10. Senate Amendments agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N)

    2/20/2025House
  11. Passed Senate with amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N)

    2/19/2025Senate
  12. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    2/19/2025Senate
  13. Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to

    2/19/2025Senate
  14. Read third time

    2/19/2025Senate
  15. Reading of amendments waived

    2/19/2025Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N)

    2/18/2025Senate
  17. Passed by for the day

    2/18/2025Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    2/18/2025Senate
  19. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (15-Y 0-N)

    2/17/2025Senate
  20. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/5/2025Senate
  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/5/2025Senate
  22. Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N)

    2/4/2025House
  23. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    2/4/2025House
  24. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N)

    2/4/2025House
  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2177)

    2/3/2025House

Bill Text

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