OH HB486

Establishes requirements for law enforcement agencies using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for surveillance, requiring search warrants except in limited circumstances including border patrol within 25 miles, exigent circumstances involving imminent danger, environmental disasters, and research/education purposes.

Prohibits flight data and information from being admissible in criminal proceedings unless obtained under a valid search warrant or exigent circumstances, and restricts use of such data in affidavits to obtain search warrants.

Requires search warrant applications for drone surveillance to specify authorized personnel, operating locations, maximum flight duration, whether flight data will be collected about individuals, and detailed information about data collection methods, usage, retention periods, and destruction plans.

Prohibits law enforcement from arming drones with lethal weapons, authorizing private individual surveillance without consent, or conducting surveillance of individuals lawfully exercising constitutional rights.

Mandates law enforcement agencies document all flight logistics for each surveillance flight, retain logistics for at least five years, retain flight data for no more than 90 days unless relevant to investigations, and make flight logistics public records under Ohio's public records law.