Washington Legislature Kills Bill Regulating Use of Drones

Despite significant support from both parties and many other groups, the bill didn't even make it to a vote.

The measure, House Bill 1771, ran out of time before it could be voted on. Democrats killed the bill in the House, and in the Senate, chair officials said changes to the bill were not ready in time before voting deadlines expired.

The bill, which had support from civil libertarian groups and a collection of Republicans and Democrats, would have regulated the purchase and use of drones by state and local agencies -- including law enforcement. Increasing concerns over drone technology and the impact on privacy resulted in similar measures being looked at in many other states.

Boeing opposed the bill saying it would have hurt "future jobs in the growing unmanned aerial vehicle industry."