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119-hr-7525119th CongressWALLET

Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act

Sponsored By: Representative Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]

In Committee

Summary

Gives the FAA authority to detect, track, and mitigate credible threats from unmanned aircraft systems to protect airports and other high‑risk facilities. It pairs that authority with multi‑year pilots so approved state, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies can use FAA‑approved counter‑UAS tools while the FAA studies impacts on aviation safety.

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  • Designated law enforcement agencies can deploy FAA‑approved counter‑UAS systems to detect, monitor, seize, disable, or destroy threatening drones, with a pilot cap of up to 1,000 agencies in year one and 3,000 more in year two for a 4,000 total over the 3‑year pilot. Agencies must use approved equipment and complete FAA‑approved training.
  • Aviation and airport operations gain a formal testing path. The FAA may evaluate counter‑UAS systems for interference with airports, navigation, and air traffic services and may intercept relevant UAS communications as needed to address threats.
  • Communities and civil liberties get limits and oversight. Actions must conform to the First and Fourth Amendments, interceptions are limited to necessary uses, records must be disposed of unless needed for legal purposes, and agencies must publish and certify written privacy policies and report complaints to the FAA and Congress.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

FAA power to stop dangerous drones

If enacted, the FAA Administrator would be allowed to detect, identify, monitor, and track unmanned aircraft across the national airspace and, when needed, seize, take control of, disable, damage, or destroy them in coordination with federal, state, local, Tribal, or territorial law enforcement. The FAA would be allowed to intercept or access wire, oral, or electronic communications used to control a drone only as needed to detect or mitigate a credible threat or to test counter‑UAS systems. Interception and use of those communications would have to follow the First and Fourth Amendments and federal law. Records of intercepted communications would have to be deleted right away after the authorized activity unless the FAA determines retention is needed for specified investigative, prosecutorial, security, or legal reasons.

Pilot programs letting police use counter‑drone gear

If enacted, the FAA would run a 3‑year pilot starting 60 days after enactment to let designated State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies acquire, deploy, and operate FAA‑approved counter‑UAS systems. The general pilot would allow up to 1,000 agencies in year one, up to 3,000 more in year two, and up to 4,000 agencies total; designated agencies would need FAA‑approved plans, proof of training, a written privacy policy before use, and must report each use within 180 days. Agencies could apply for existing DOT or other federal law‑enforcement and security grants to pay for gear, training, and operations, subject to agency approval and appropriations. The bill would also create a short World Cup pilot with an application process within 15 days, designations effective March 1 through September 30, 2026, no more than 40 agencies at a time, coordination with host cities, and a requirement that each World Cup‑related use be reported within 30 days. The FAA would report to Congress about pilot uses and any privacy or civil liberties complaints: for the general pilot, one year after the first agency is designated and then every 6 months; for the World Cup pilot, within 6 months after that pilot ends.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]

MO • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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