This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a pilot program testing the use of nonlethal drones equipped with devices like sound emitters, cameras, and nonlethal weapons to help law enforcement respond to active shooter situations. The program, which must begin within two months of enactment, will develop training protocols, safety guidelines, and validation processes for these deescalation drones while explicitly maintaining the existing ban on armed, lethal drones. The FAA will partner with existing drone test ranges and law enforcement agencies from federal, state, and local levels to evaluate whether nonlethal drones can safely increase the distance between officers and shooters during active incidents. Within three months of concluding the pilot program, the FAA must report findings to Congress and then initiate a formal rulemaking process to establish approval procedures for law enforcement and manufacturers to operate these devices. All drones used must be manufactured in the United States.
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