SF 1524

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 06/05/2025 09:55 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; expanding the permitted uses of unmanned aerial vehicles
by law enforcement; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 626.19,
subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 626.19, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Authorized use.

A law enforcement agency may use a UAV:

(1) during or in the aftermath of an emergency situation that involves the risk of death
or bodily harm to a person new text begin , or to prevent imminent destruction of evidence new text end ;

(2) over a public event where there is a heightened risk to the safety of participants or
bystanders;

(3) to counter the risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization if the
agency determines that credible intelligence indicates a risk;

(4) to prevent the loss of life and property in natural or man-made disasters and to
facilitate operational planning, rescue, and recovery operations in the aftermath of these
disasters;

(5) to conduct a threat assessment in anticipation of a specific event;

(6) to collect information from a public area if there is reasonable suspicion of criminal
activity;

(7) to collect information for crash reconstruction purposes after a serious or deadly
collision occurring on a public road;

(8) over a public area new text begin or private area with the written consent of the occupant new text end for officer
training or public relations purposes; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(9) for purposes unrelated to law enforcement at the request of a government entity
provided that the government entity makes the request in writing to the law enforcement
agency and specifies the reason for the request and proposed period of use new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (10) to facilitate the search for a missing person new text end .