Headlines 21 September 2026

Senator Johnson announces new protections against unmanned aerial surveillance

COLUMBUS — Senator Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) applauds the signing of House Bill 251, sponsored by Representative Bernie Willis (R-Springfield), which requires law enforcement to obtain a search warrant before using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance purposes.

"With technology constantly evolving, the legislature must ensure that its use does not violate the Constitutional Rights of Ohioans," said Senator Johnson. "By enacting this legislation, Ohioans can ensure that their local law enforcement is using every available piece of technology to protect them while still feeling secure in their constitutional rights."

While in the Senate, the legislation was amended by Senator Johnson to prohibit all public entities from acquiring or using UAVs assembled in or purchased from any country designated as a foreign adversary by the Ohio Secretary of State. This amendment goes into effect 48 months following the bill's effective date.

"We cannot and should not give our foreign adversaries any ability to survey Americans," added Senator Johnson. "By prohibiting the use of UAVs built by our foreign adversaries, we can be sure that the UAVs used by law enforcement do not include any spyware or malware created by our enemies."

House Bill 251 has been signed by Governor DeWine and will go into effect on October 6th. 

Senator Johnson represents the 14th District in the Ohio Senate, which encompasses all of Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Scioto counties. Learn more at www.OhioSenate.gov/Johnson. 

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