SB647Introduced in the Senate
Unmanned aircraft systems; use by law-enforcement officers, search warrants.
Introduced by Todd Pillion, District 6
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 HB 1219.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0271)
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: House amendment agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 6, 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 26103704D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Senate committee offered
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 1-N 1-A)
Committee substitute printed 26106981D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB647)
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)
Read second time
Read third time
committee amendment agreed to
Engrossed by House as amended
Passed House with amendment (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
Passed House with amendment (99-Y 0-N 0-A)
House amendment agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB647ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB647)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 271 (Effective - see bill)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0271)
Verify the information
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