James Justice (R-WV)
Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2026," seeks to amend title 49 of the United States Code. It establishes a pilot program for the use of small, nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft by various law enforcement agencies. The program is specifically intended for use by Federal, State, local, or Tribal law enforcement when responding to an active shooter event. The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration is tasked with creating this program and establishing protocols for training, safety, and operations. Additionally, the bill requires that any such aircraft used in the program must be manufactured in the United States.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +4
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill establishes a pilot program to integrate nonlethal deescalation drones into law enforcement responses to active shooter events.
- Scored +2
Would business owners be better off under this?
The domestic manufacturing requirement provides a benefit to U.S.-based manufacturers of unmanned aircraft.
- Scored +2
Would people in cities be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets law enforcement in large metropolitan areas for the implementation of the pilot program.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Safety During Active Shooter Events: The pilot program aims to assess the safety benefits of increasing the safe engagement distance between a law enforcement officer and an active shooter (Section 2(b)(2)(A)(iv)).
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Use of Nonlethal Alternatives: The program focuses on the potential use of nonlethal deescalation unmanned aircraft, which are designed to incapacitate individuals while minimizing fatalities and permanent injury (Section 2(b)(2)(2) and Section 2(b)(2)(3)).
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Enhanced Capability for Law Enforcement: The program will review and validate nonlethal weapons and devices—such as intense sound distraction emitters, cameras, targeting sensors, speakers, and strobe lights—that can be used by law enforcement (Section 2(b)(2)(2)(A) and Section 2(b)(2)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Maintenance of Weapon Prohibitions: The bill reaffirms the existing prohibition regarding unmanned aircraft armed with dangerous weapons (Section 2(b)(1)(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The domestic manufacturing requirement provides a benefit to U.S.-based manufacturers of unmanned aircraft. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets law enforcement in large metropolitan areas for the implementation of the pilot program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill establishes a pilot program to integrate nonlethal deescalation drones into law enforcement responses to active shooter events.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill requires that any unmanned aircraft used in the pilot program be manufactured in the United States, which benefits domestic manufacturers.
- 4/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.