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Read. Follow. Verify.Minnesota House Bill 561 authorizes police use of drones to find missing and fleeing individuals
Last action · March 13, 2025: Motion to recall and re-refer, motion prevailed Public Safety Finance and PolicySponsor: Duane Quam
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What This Bill Proposed
Minnesota law enforcement agencies are authorized to use s to search for missing persons, locate individuals actively fleeing arrest, and track escaped incarcerated persons under HF 561.
Expands the legal circumstances under which police departments may deploy aerial drones without requiring an emergency warrant or prior judicial approval.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
law enforcement agency
Law enforcement agencies gain explicit legal authorization to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles for missing persons searches, active pursuits, and prison escapes.
missing person
Missing individuals, including missing children and vulnerable adults, may be searched for using aerial drone technology.
incarcerated person
Incarcerated individuals escaping from adult correctional facilities may be tracked by law enforcement using drones.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can police use drones to search for missing children under this bill?
Does the bill permit drone use during an active police pursuit?
Are prison escapes covered under the new drone authorizations?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Mar 13, 2025HouseCommitteeMotion to recall and re-refer, motion prevailed Public Safety Finance and Policy
- Feb 13, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Finance and Policy
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.revisor.mn.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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