ND HB1613

Expands North Dakota's existing law enforcement drone regulations to include ground-based robots, defined as powered autonomous machines capable of using force, conducting surveillance, or moving independently of direct human input

Requires search warrants for law enforcement use of robots for surveillance, with the same constitutional standards and data collection statement requirements that apply to unmanned aerial vehicles

Prohibits autonomous weapon activation on robots; lethal weapons may only be deployed remotely by human control to neutralize explosive threats or prevent imminent death/serious injury where lethal force would be legally justified

Allows robot use without warrants for border patrol within 25 miles of national borders, exigent circumstances involving imminent danger to life, and environmental catastrophe response

Requires law enforcement agencies to adopt use-of-force policies before authorizing armed robots and to document all deployments of robots with lethal weapons; passed unanimously (House 91-0, Senate 46-0)