HB1219Introduced in the House of Delegates
Unmanned aircraft systems; use by law-enforcement officers, search warrants.
Introduced by Briana Sewell, District 25
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Use of unmanned aircraft systems by law-enforcement officers; search warrants; model policy. Expedites the issuance of a search warrant for unmanned aircraft systems by law-enforcement officers upon a finding of reasonable and probable cause by an authorized judicial official, as defined in the bill, and permits the use of unmanned aircraft systems without a search warrant when law enforcement is surveying the scene of a crime or to respond to a public safety call for service when such crime scene or call for service is located on public property, to locate a person when such person has fled the offense location during the initial response to an incident, or to provide real-time aerial observation to increase on-scene safety and security. Such provisions are subject to a reenactment clause. The bill also requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in consultation with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, to establish a model policy for the use of unmanned aircraft systems by December 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 647.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0270)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 9, 2026
40
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103614D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
Committee substitute printed 26106525D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Fiscal Impact statement From DPB (2/17/2026 3:20 pm)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1219ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1219)
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 270 (Effective - see bill)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0270)
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