Unmanned aircraft systems; use by public bodies, search warrant required, exceptions.
Summary
Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; search warrant required; exceptions. Adds the Department of Environmental Quality to the list of exceptions to the warrant requirement for the use of an unmanned aircraft system by public bodies for the implementation and civil enforcement of the Virginia Water Resources and Wetlands Protection Program, the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act, and erosion and sediment control in localities without a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program against a permittee.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Chaptered
·
1 edit
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 245 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive legal text regarding drone usage by law enforcement remained identical to the enrolled version, with no changes to the search warrant requirements, exceptions, or prohibitions. The only differences are formatting adjustments, such as the addition of the official chapter number, the approval date, and spacing changes.
TECHNICAL
The document was converted from an enrolled bill draft to the final chaptered law, adding the official chapter number (245) and the approval date (April 6, 2026) while removing session headers.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 39
Feb 27, 2026
D
Democratic20
90% Yea
R
Republican19
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 245 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB950ER)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
committee amendments agreed to
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Alfonso Lopez
DDemocratic
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