HB3902 Summary

• Amends the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act to expand authorized uses of drones by law enforcement, adding exceptions for first responders responding to 911 calls, infrastructure inspections, public relations demonstrations, and drone use at routed events and special events with public notice requirements.

• Prohibits law enforcement drones from using onboard facial recognition software during flight and from using drone-gathered information with facial recognition software, except in counter-terrorism operations or emergency situations involving imminent harm.

• Prohibits law enforcement from equipping drones with firearms, weaponized lasers, kinetic impact projectiles, chemical agents, or any other lethal or non-lethal weapons.

• Requires law enforcement agencies to destroy drone-gathered information within 30 days (or 24 hours for special events), except when retained for evidence of criminal activity, ongoing investigations, training purposes without personal identifiable information, or flight data/metadata.

• Mandates annual reporting by law enforcement agencies to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority on drone ownership and usage, requires public disclosure of drone policies on agency websites, and grants the Attorney General authority to investigate violations and impose sanctions including forfeiture of drone use for 6 months to one year.