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AB-1160 • 2026

Military equipment.

Military equipment.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Wilson
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties.

Rules for Police Drones and Robots

This law stops police departments from buying certain types of drones and robots after January 1, 2027, unless they can turn off unnecessary data collection or use American companies to store the collected information.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops police departments from purchasing unmanned, remotely piloted vehicles on or after January 1, 2027, if these vehicles don't have an option to turn off unnecessary data collection programs.
  • Requires police departments to use American companies for storing all data collected by drones and robots purchased between January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027.
  • For older unmanned vehicles owned before January 1, 2026, police must switch to American data storage companies once their current contracts end.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Police departments that want to buy or use drones and robots for law enforcement.

Terms To Know

Unmanned vehicle
A machine, like a drone or robot, that can move without a person inside it controlling it directly.
Data storage company
A business that keeps information safe on computers and servers for other organizations to use later.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if a police department cannot find an American data storage company.
  • It is unclear how the law will be enforced or what penalties there might be for breaking it.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-05-14 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  5. 2025-05-06 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  7. 2025-05-01 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 1).

  8. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

  9. 2025-03-25 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  10. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

  11. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and P. & C.P.

  12. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  13. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1160, as amended, Wilson.
Military equipment.
Existing law requires a law enforcement agency, as defined, to obtain specific approval of a governing body prior to acquiring military equipment, as specified. Existing law defines “military equipment” to include an unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicle.
This bill would prohibit a law enforcement agency from purchasing, on or after January 1, 2027, an
unmanned,
uncrewed,
remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicle unless the vehicle contains an option to turn off any data collection programs that are not necessary for the vehicle to function
or
and
the law enforcement agency uses an American data storage company, as defined, to house all data collected, including, but not limited to, video and photographic images, as specified, or both.
For uncrewed, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2027, the bill would require a law enforcement agency to use an American data storage company. For uncrewed aerial or ground vehicles owned or possessed by a law enforcement agency prior to January 1, 2026, the bill would require the law enforcement agency to use an American data storage company after the current contract to house the data expires. The bill would require contracts entered into pursuant to these provisions with an American data storage company to prohibit the American data storage company from using, selling, renting, trading, or otherwise sharing this data
with any other entity.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF