Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 647
Unmanned aircraft systems; use by law-enforcement officers, search warrants.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Todd E. Pillion (Republican)
Cosponsors (2)
- Bill DeSteph (Republican)
- Christie New Craig (Republican)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
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.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6, 2026 Senate | Concur House Amendment R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 4, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 4, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 2, 2026 House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 17, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 11, 2026 Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 6, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0271) - Apr 6, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 271 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 18, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB647) - Mar 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 14, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB647ER) - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Enrolled - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
House amendment agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Passed House with amendment (99-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Passed House with amendment (97-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Engrossed by House as amended - Mar 4, 2026 · House
committee amendment agreed to - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Read third time - Mar 3, 2026 · House
Read second time - Mar 2, 2026 · House
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB647) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26106981D-S1 - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 1-N 1-A) - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103704D