H.R. 5879: Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023

118th Congress · introduced 2023-10-03 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2023-10-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023

Plain summary

Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study, and create an approval process for, nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones). Under the bill, nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft means an unmanned aircraft that is equipped with one or more nonlethal weapons or devices and is used by law enforcement personnel in scenarios (1) that present significant risk to human life, and (2) in which the suspected criminal is in a position to potentially escalate the situation and expose human life to a high level of risk. Specifically, the FAA must initiate a pilot research program to study the potential use of nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft by law enforcement agencies. As part of the study, the FAA must enter into interagency agreements with various federal, state, and local agencies. The FAA must submit a report on the results of the research program to Congress. The report must include a plan outlining a proposed FAA application process for law enforcement to seek permission to operate nonlethal de-escalation unmanned aircraft. Within 90 days of submitting the report, the FAA must initiate rulemaking to create a process through which the FAA may provide approval to operate these unmanned aircraft.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Drone Research and Innovation for Law Enforcement Act of 2023

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] · 26 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Michael Guest (R-MS), Donald G. Davis (D-NC), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Mike Ezell (R-MS), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), John H. Rutherford (R-FL), Russell Fry (R-SC), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Barry Moore (R-AL), Mike Flood (R-NE), Ryan K. Zinke (R-MT), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Celeste Maloy (R-UT), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] reported raising $429,606 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-118hr5879.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/118/hr>

Record fed-us-cong118-hr5879 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong118 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong118