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Drones for Law Enforcement: Non-Lethal Equipment Research

This act establishes a research program for law enforcement agencies to study the use of drones equipped with non-lethal devices. The goal is to enhance safety in high-risk situations, protecting both citizens and officers. Citizens may experience an impact through potential changes in how law enforcement handles dangerous encounters.
Key points
A pilot research program will be initiated to study the use of non-lethal de-escalation drones by law enforcement.
These drones are intended for use in scenarios posing significant risk to human life, aiming to prevent escalation.
The act reaffirms the prohibition against drones armed with dangerous weapons.
Training and operational safety protocols for drone operators will be developed.
Drones used in the research program may be manufactured in the United States.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_5879
Sponsor: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]
Process start date: 2023-10-03
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_HR_5879.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-10-03.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • A pilot research program will be initiated to study the use of non-lethal de-escalation drones by law enforcement.
  • These drones are intended for use in scenarios posing significant risk to human life, aiming to prevent escalation.
  • The act reaffirms the prohibition against drones armed with dangerous weapons.
  • Training and operational safety protocols for drone operators will be developed.
  • Drones used in the research program may be manufactured in the United States.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-25.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Security Courts and Law Transport