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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3598 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3598
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a pilot program for
small, nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft to be used for law
enforcement and public safety, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2025
Mr. Nehls (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Finstad, Mr.
Higgins of Louisiana, Ms. Boebert, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Moore of Alabama,
Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Wied, and Ms. Maloy) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a pilot program for
small, nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft to be used for law
enforcement and public safety, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT PILOT PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
PUBLIC SAFETY.
(a) In General.--Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 44815. Small unmanned aircraft pilot program for law enforcement
and public safety
``(a) Prohibition Regarding Weapons.--The prohibition regarding
unmanned aircraft armed with dangerous weapons under section 363 of the
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 44802 note) is reaffirmed.
``(b) Pilot Program.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 months after the date
of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration shall establish a deescalation drone
pilot program to review the potential use of nonlethal
deescalation unmanned aircraft by Federal, State, local, or
Tribal law enforcement responding to an active shooter event.
``(2) Contents.--The pilot program required under paragraph
(1) shall--
``(A) address the process of reviewing and
validating nonlethal weapons that may be affixed to an
unmanned aircraft;
``(B) address training protocols for law
enforcement and agents of the Administration for the
use of nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft;
``(C) address operational and safety protocols for
operators of nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft
and agencies directly overseeing the operation of such
unmanned aircraft; and
``(D) assess the efficacy of nonlethal deescalation
unmanned aircraft in indoor active shooter events and
the safety benefits associated with increasing the safe
engagement distance between a law enforcement officer
and an active shooter.
``(3) Partnerships.--In carrying out the pilot program
under this subsection, the Administrator shall use existing
partnerships with the unmanned aircraft system test ranges
designated under section 44803, in collaboration with Federal,
State, and large metropolitan area law enforcement.
``(4) Interagency aviation agreements.--The Administrator
may enter into interagency aviation agreements, as necessary,
with the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland
Security, and State large metropolitan and rural law
enforcement agencies to support the pilot program under this
subsection.
``(5) Consultation.--The Administrator shall solicit input
from, and coordinate with, relevant stakeholders as appropriate
in carrying out the pilot program established under this
subsection.
``(6) Report.--Not later than 3 months after the conclusion
of the pilot program, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the results of the pilot program
that includes a plan outlining a proposed process through which
a law enforcement applicant to such program may seek permission
from the Administrator to operate nonlethal deescalation
unmanned aircraft.
``(c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 60 days after submitting the
report required under subsection (b)(6), the Administrator shall
initiate a rulemaking to create a process through which the
Administrator may provide approval--
``(1) for Federal, State, local, or Tribal law enforcement
to operate nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft during an
active shooter event; and
``(2) for manufacturers of nonlethal deescalation unmanned
aircraft to operate such devices for testing, validation, and
law enforcement demonstrations.
``(d) Manufacturing Requirement.--Any nonlethal deescalation
unmanned aircraft used under the pilot program shall be manufactured in
the United States, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission under
part 323 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Active shooter event.--The term `active shooter
event' means an event in which--
``(A) an individual is actively engaged in
unlawfully killing or attempting to kill people using
explosives as defined under chapter 40 of title 18,
United States Code, or weapons subject to chapter 44 of
title 18 or chapter 53 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986;
``(B) responding to the event poses a significant
risk to human life, including the lives of law
enforcement personnel and other individuals; and
``(C) absent an immediate use of force, the
individual described in subparagraph (A) would continue
posing a threat to human life.
``(2) Nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft.--The term
`nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft' means an unmanned
aircraft operated by law enforcement that--
``(A) is only equipped or armed with 1 or more
nonlethal weapons, including those that may be subject
to the definition provided in section 930(g)(2) of
title 18, United States Code; and
``(B) may be equipped with other nonlethal devices,
including intense sound distraction emitters, cameras,
targeting sensors, speakers, strobe lights and other
similar collateral equipment.
``(3) Nonlethal weapon.--The term `nonlethal weapon' means
a weapon, device, or munition that--
``(A) is explicitly designed and primarily employed
to immediately incapacitate targeted individuals or
property in the target area while minimizing--
``(i) fatalities;
``(ii) permanent injury to individuals; and
``(iii) undesired damage to property; and
``(B) is intended to have reversible effects on
individuals and property.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 448 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
```44815. Small unmanned aircraft pilot program for law enforcement and
public safety.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
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