MN drone-warrant law (2020)
Minnesota SF 3072 — Law-Enforcement Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Minnesota · Minn. Stat. § 626.19
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- August 1, 2020
- Applies to
- Minnesota state and local law-enforcement agencies
- Enforced by
- Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; state courts (suppression)
Minnesota requires police to get a search warrant before using a drone, with narrow exceptions, and to publish an annual public report listing every drone deployment, purpose, and cost. The annual transparency requirement is among the strongest in any state drone law.
Who is protected: Minnesotans subject to law-enforcement drone surveillance
Legal detail
Minn. Stat. § 626.19, added by SF 3072 (2020 Special Session Ch. 1, Art. 1, § 17); annual report due Jan. 15 to BCA and posted publicly.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | June 16, 2020 |
| Citation | Minn. Stat. § 626.19 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Inadmissibility of evidence; agency reporting obligations |
| Topics | consumer data privacy · police and surveillance AI · AI disclosure and transparency |
| Statute | Minnesota Statutes § 626.19 — Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles |
More AI rules in Minnesota
- MN HF 1606 AI Nudification Ban (2026) · In effect
- xAI v. Ellison (MN nudification ban challenge) · Blocked / in litigation
- Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act · In effect
- MN Deepfake Law · In effect
- Minnesota SF 4097 (social-media algorithm disclosure) · In effect
- Minnesota HF 2432 (AI-generated CSAM) · In effect
Related consumer data privacy rules elsewhere
- Vermont Data Broker Law (H.211) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Chatrie v. United States (Fourth Amendment protection for location… · Blocked / in litigation
- House Bill 2512 — Banning surveillance pricing by rideshare companies · Proposed / pending
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Maine LD 61 (employer surveillance disclosure & prohibition) · In effect
- Washington SHB 1672 (employee monitoring notice, ADS restrictions, emotion AI ban) · In effect
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