Bill > HF1275

This bill modifies Minnesota's existing law regarding the authorized uses of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by law enforcement agencies, specifically adding a new provision that allows UAVs to be used "in risk of, or for purposes of, the lawful pursuit of a fleeing suspect." The bill essentially expands the existing list of permissible UAV uses by inserting a new provision (renumbered as item 3) that enables law enforcement to use drones when there is a risk of a suspect fleeing or during an active pursuit. The amendment does not fundamentally change the other existing authorized uses, which include emergency response, public event monitoring, terrorist threat assessment, disaster response, criminal activity investigation, crash reconstruction, officer training, and inter-government agency requests. The bill maintains existing safeguards by requiring that UAV usage must fall within specific, defined circumstances and does not broadly expand surveillance powers. By adding the fleeing suspect provision, the bill provides law enforcement with an additional tool for tracking and apprehending suspects while potentially reducing risks associated with direct physical pursuit.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1275&ssn=0&y=2025