Last progress May 22, 2025 (6 months ago)
Introduced on May 22, 2025 by James Lankford
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
This bill requires the Defense Department to study drone threats along U.S. borders and share what it finds. It covers areas at or within 100 miles of any land or coastal border. The study must look at who is using drones for crime, what data they collect, the tactics they use (like surveillance, attacks, or moving contraband), and how well the government can detect and stop them. It also has to review privacy and civil rights protections for people who use drones legally in these areas . The study is due within one year of the law taking effect, followed by a public report within 180 days (with a classified annex if needed) and a briefing to Congress 90 days after that .
| Key point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Who is affected | People living and working near borders, legal drone hobbyists and businesses, and law enforcement and border agencies . |
| What changes | A government-wide review of border drone threats, detection and counter-drone tools, and whether current laws are enough. It also checks that privacy and civil rights are protected for lawful drone users . |
| When | Study due within 1 year of enactment; report due 180 days after the study; briefing 90 days after the report . |
For everyday life, this could lead to better monitoring and stopping of illegal drone activity near borders, while clarifying rules and protections for people who fly drones responsibly in those areas .