Texas Drone Ban: HB41 Threatens Public Safety

Get ready for a powerful wake-up call against the Texas Drone Ban straight from the heart of Central Texas! In the video and transcript below, Rob Robertson delivers an urgent and compelling message that every law enforcement officer, concerned citizen, and Texan needs to hear. With passion and clarity, he exposes the hidden dangers of House Bill 41—a deceptive proposal that could strip public safety teams of the lifesaving Drone Technology they rely on daily. This isn’t just a policy debate; it’s a gripping fight for the tools that protect our communities, and Rob’s words will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to take action. Dive in and see why this matters to you!

Public Safety Drone Advocacy: Opposition to House Bill 41

Good morning, everyone. Rob Robertson here, coming to you from Central Texas. Law enforcement and concerned citizens, especially here in Texas, we need your attention and your voice. Lawmakers are pushing a bill, House Bill 41. If it passes, it would effectively ban the drones that Texas public safety teams rely on every single day to protect our communities. Let me be clear: these aren’t toys. They’re not gadgets. They’re lifelines. Public safety uses them to find missing children, reduce use-of-force incidents, de-escalate high-risk situations, and protect officers from walking into deadly ambushes. They’re also vital for border security, disaster response, and search and rescue.

Understanding House Bill 41

So what is House Bill 41? HB41 is a sweeping drone ban disguised as a cyber security policy. But if you read the fine print, it does the opposite of protecting Texas. It would force agencies to retire safe working equipment at an arbitrary deadline. It would ban the purchase of the same drones used by 95% of public safety teams in the nation. And it would ground American-made drones with parts made in China.

Let’s call it what it is: a vendor protection bill, not a security bill. While lobbyists push this under the flag of security, it’s your communities, rural towns, border zones, and city streets that will pay the price. This is like telling Firefighters they can’t use the only hose that fits the hydrant because it was made overseas, even though it’s already saved thousands of homes. Or being told to junk your patrol car even if it was made in Detroit, just because a spark plug came from across the ocean.

That’s HB41 logic, throwing out life-saving equipment because one chip, battery, or motor came from over there. That’s not protecting Texas. That’s burning tax dollars by the billions with a “B”.

And here’s the real danger: If HB41 passes, criminals, cartels, and foreign adversaries will have access to better drone tech than our own officers. That’s not a theory. It’s already happening in other states.

The North Hollywood Parallel

Remember the 1997 North Hollywood shootout? LAPD shows up with handguns. The suspect had body armor and automatic weapons. Officers were outgunned for 44 minutes. And that moment changed how we equip law enforcement forever. But this time it’s not about being outgunned; it’s about being out-teched. And the consequences can be just as deadly.

Financial and Operational Impact

If HB41 becomes law, departments will be forced to buy drones that cost three to twelve times more, and they will deliver less capability and come with supply chain nightmares, limited batteries, back orders, and performance issues. In smaller departments, they may lose their drone programs entirely.

So here’s the kicker: HB41 would even ban American drones if they contain related equipment from China, which is almost all drones on the market today. Because the truth is, no one makes those parts with the same reliability, scalability, or affordability.

Taking Action Against Texas Drone Ban

But here’s the good news: We can stop it. HB41 is heading to Committee. If we shut it down there, it’s done: no vote, no law. Here’s what we need from you: be at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, April 2nd. Show up, testify, and tell lawmakers what these tools really mean for your programs and for community protection.

Can’t make it? That’s okay. I just learned you can go to droneadvocacyalliance.com right now, and they have a section where you can contact your Texas representatives. Use their tools to call, email, and share your story.

About LEDA

I’m not just speaking as a public safety drone professional; I’m speaking for the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA). We’re a nonprofit dedicated to raising the standard of how drones are used in public safety. And let me be clear, LEDA is drone agnostic. We don’t push brands; we push results. We believe agencies should have the right to choose the most capable, affordable, and mission-ready tools based on their needs, not politics.

Because at the end of the day, it’s more American to save American lives than to regulate tools based on fear or lobbying. Public safety is not the place for political theater. We need policy based on facts, not flags.

This isn’t just about drones. It’s about your family, your officers, your neighborhood. We need to say no. Stand in solidarity against the Texas Drone Ban / House Bill 41 and say yes to keeping public safety strong, equipped, and capable. If you want to participate and need more information on this hearing, email [email protected]. Also, CC [email protected]. We’ll see you at the Capitol.

Let’s shut the Texas Drone Ban down together!