Public Safety - Persistent Aerial Surveillance

Summary

The bill makes it illegal for any Maryland state agency, law‑enforcement unit, or local government to use aircraft to continuously record video or images that track a person’s movements for criminal investigations. It allows such surveillance only when a judge issues a search warrant, an arrest warrant is being executed, the police are in fresh pursuit, during rescue missions, to find an escaped prisoner, to prevent imminent serious bodily harm, or when the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security deems it necessary to counter a specific terrorist threat. The measure aims to protect privacy while preserving limited law‑enforcement needs.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Hearings

• Judiciary — Bill Hearing
  Judiciary · Feb 24, 2026

History

1. Jan 29, 2026Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.
2. Jan 22, 2026First Reading Judiciary

Sponsors

• Grammer · sponsor

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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