Public Safety - State and Local Governments - Use of Unmanned Aircraft

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0471*

HOUSE BILL 471
E4, D1 6lr0975
HB 954/25 – JUD
By: Delegate Grammer
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Public Safety – State and Local Governments – Use of Unmanned Aircraft 2

FOR the purpose of providing that certain evidence obtained through the use of an 3
unmanned aircraft is inadmissible in a criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding; 4
prohibiting a unit of State government or a political subdivision of the State from 5
deploying or operating an unmanned aircraft subject to certain exceptions; 6
prohibiting a unit of State government or a political subdivision of the State fro m 7
using certain information acquired through the use of an unmanned aircraft; and 8
generally relating to the use of unmanned aircraft by the State and by local 9
governments. 10

BY adding to 11
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 12
Section 10–926 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15

BY adding to 16
Article – Public Safety 17
Section 1–701 and 1–702 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 7. Use of Unmanned 18
Aircraft by State and Local Government” 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23

Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 24

10–926. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 471

ANY EVIDENCE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT IN 1
VIOLATION OF § 1–702 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE IS INADMISSIBLE IN ANY 2
CRIMINAL, CIVIL, OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING. 3

Article – Public Safety 4

SUBTITLE 7. USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. 5

1–701. 6

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWI NG WORDS HAVE THE ME ANINGS 7
INDICATED. 8

(B) “AIRCRAFT” MEANS A DEVICE THAT IS USED OR INTENDED TO BE USED 9
FOR FLIGHT IN THE AIR. 10

(C) “UNMANNED AIRCRAFT ” MEANS AN AIRCRAFT TH AT IS OPERATED 11
WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT HUMAN INTERVENTION FROM WITHIN OR ON 12
THE AIRCRAFT. 13

1–702. 14

(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, A UNIT OF 15
STATE GOVERNMENT OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE MAY NOT: 16

(1) DEPLOY OR OPERATE AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT FO R 17
SURVEILLANCE, EVIDENCE COLLECTION, OR ANY OTHER PURPOSE; OR 18

(2) USE INFORMATION ACQU IRED THROUGH THE USE OF AN 19
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OPERATED BY ANY ENTITY, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE. 20

(B) A UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE 21
STATE MAY DEPLOY OR OPERATE AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT: 22

(1) IN ACCORDANCE WITH A VALID SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED BY A 23
JUDGE; 24

(2) AT A LOCATION FOR TH E PURPOSE OF EXECUTI NG AN ARREST 25
WARRANT; 26

(3) IN FRESH PURSUIT OF A SUSPECT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–301 27
OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE; 28

HOUSE BILL 471 3

(4) TO ASSIST IN AN ACTIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION; 1

(5) TO LOCATE AN ESCAPED PRISONER; 2

(6) IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REASONABLY BELIEVES THAT 3
THE USE OF AIRCRAFT IS NECESSARY TO PREV ENT IMMINENT SERIOUS BODILY 4
HARM TO AN INDIVIDUAL; OR 5

(7) IF THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY 6
DETERMINES THAT CRED IBLE INTELLIGENCE IN DICATES THAT THERE I S A HIGH 7
RISK OF A TERRORIST ATTACK BY A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION AND 8
THAT USE OF AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT IS NECESSARY TO COUNTER THE RISK. 9

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 10
October 1, 2026. 11