EVIDENCE: Provides relative to self-authentication of certain evidence
This bill establishes a process for law enforcement agencies to use written certificates to authenticate video footage from unmanned aircraft systems in criminal, juvenile, and certain civil forfeiture cases. Under the new rules, agencies must provide notice of intent to use this certificate method at least 45 days before trial, with a shorter five-day notice required for juvenile court cases. Defendants have the right to request the testimony of the person who operated the aircraft within 30 days of receiving notice, and if they do so, the footage cannot be admitted solely based on the certificate. The legislation defines key terms like "footage" and "unmanned aircraft system" and allows law enforcement to use electronic signatures for certificates.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Mar 30, 2026
Signed May 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB1054 Original
→
HB1054 Act 450
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the rules for admitting drone footage as evidence in court. It expands the types of cases where this footage can be used to include civil forfeiture proceedings and modifies the timeline for defendants to request the operator's testimony. The changes aim to streamline the legal process for using drone evidence while ensuring defendants have adequate time to challenge it.
Scope change
The bill now applies to civil forfeiture proceedings in addition to existing criminal and juvenile court cases.
SCOPE
Added civil forfeiture proceedings arising from criminal activity to the list of cases where drone footage is admissible.
TIMELINE
Changed the deadline for defendants to demand the operator's testimony from three days to ten days in juvenile court cases.
Added a new 30-day extension request window for defendants in criminal cases if the initial deadline is missed.
REQUIREMENT
Clarified that filing a demand for testimony does not automatically block the admission of the footage through other legal means.
Floor votes · Senate May 12, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026
How they voted
27–8
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 12, 2026
D
Democratic12
58% Nay
R
Republican28
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
5
Committee
4
May 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 78, nays 12, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
May 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 7 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 86, nays 14. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (10-0).
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Debbie Villio
RRepublican
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