# Virginia SB1272: Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalties.

Virginia SB1272, Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalties., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Emily M. Jordan (Republican); status to governor, last action 2025-04-02 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1272-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1272
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalties.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-04-02, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
- Sponsor: Emily M. Jordan (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (448 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalties. Creates a Class 4 felony for any person who knowingly and intentionally, and without authorization, causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the airspace over any public services or utilities or critical infrastructure, as defined in relevant law, including any military base authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense, or any facility, as defined in relevant law, covered by the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. The bill also adds that the offenses related to trespass with an unmanned aircraft system shall not apply to any person who causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter any prohibited property if such person is (i) an employee of the property and is conducting official business or (ii) an employee of a public service or utility, critical infrastructure, or facility and is conducting official business.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Emily M. Jordan (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 38 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-14 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-22 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (53)

- 2025-04-02: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0622) (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Reenrolled bill text (SB1272ER2) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Enacted, Chapter 622 (Effective 07/01/2025) (House)
- 2025-04-02: Signed by Speaker as reenrolled (House)
- 2025-04-02: Signed by President as reenrolled (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (96-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-03-31: Impact statement from VCSC (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's substitute printed (SB1272S2) (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1272ER) (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-20: House substitute agreed to by Senate (38-Y 1-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (97-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-19: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-19: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-18: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-14: Impact statement from VCSC (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-14: Committee substitute printed 25107394D-H1 (House)
- 2025-02-12: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-11: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-02-06: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-06: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-31: Passed Senate Block Vote (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Read second time (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Impact statement from VCSC (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Committee substitute printed 25105813D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Impact statement from VCSC (SB1272) (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100773D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079268.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079267.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075567.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075566.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-03-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074705.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074704.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073625.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068677.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068676.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053478.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053477.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049844.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049842.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026398.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026397.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023556.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023555.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018631.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018630.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079268.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079267.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075567.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075566.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074705.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074704.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073625.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068677.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068676.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053478.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1053477.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049844.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049842.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026398.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026397.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023556.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023555.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018631.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018630.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1272-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).