Prohibits the use of robots by police agencies

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marcela Mitaynes

A 7180 bans police use of robots in operations, with exemptions and enforcement defined in the full text; affects law enforcement, robotics vendors, and communities.

REFERRED TO CODES

A 7180 — Summary

Quick Facts

Bill Number: A 7180

Title: Prohibits the use of robots by police agencies

Primary Sponsor: Marcela Mitaynes

Status: REFERRED TO CODES

Introduced: March 21, 2025

Legislative Actions: 2025-03-21 — REFERRED TO CODES (listed twice)

Related/Companion/Prior-Session Bills: S 3049 (companion), S 6418 (prior-session), S 3097 (prior-session), A 6954 (prior-session)

Overview

A 7180 would prohibit the use of robotic devices by police agencies. The central provision, as indicated by the title, is a prohibition on deploying robots in policing operations. Details such as definitions, scope, exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, and timelines would be contained in the bill’s text.

What the Bill Would Do

Prohibit: The use of robots by police agencies in their operations.

Scope and specifics: The summary available here does not provide defined terms (e.g., what qualifies as a “robot,” what contexts are covered, or any permitted exceptions). The full text would specify these elements.

Enforcement and penalties: Not specified in the provided summary; the bill would ordinarily establish how compliance is monitored and any consequences for violations in the full text.

Scope and Definitions (as yet unspecified)

The bill would include formal definitions and any exceptions in its text. These details determine precisely which devices or scenarios are covered (e.g., bomb-disposal robots, surveillance drones, or other autonomous tools) and whether there are any narrow exceptions or phased timelines.

Affected Parties

Police and law enforcement agencies that operate robotic equipment.

Vendors and suppliers of policing robotics and related technologies.

The broader community, potentially through changes in policing methods and emergency response approaches.

Legislative History and Status

Introduced and referred to the Committee on Codes on March 21, 2025.

The bill has a companion in S 3049, indicating a cross-chamber relationship to pursue similar language.

Related Bills

Companion: S 3049 (also listed as companion)

Prior-session bills: S 6418, S 3097, A 6954

These related measures suggest ongoing interest in restricting or regulating police use of robotic devices across sessions.

Next Steps and Timeline

As of now, A 7180 is in the Codes committee. If advanced, it would move through the regular committee and floor processes, potentially facing amendments and votes in either house.

Implementation details, funding, and any phased rollout would depend on the final bill text and enacted provisions.

Note

This summary reflects the information available in the bill’s brief description. The full text would provide precise definitions, exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, and any phased implementation timelines.