Sponsor
Eric Burlison
Representative · R-MO
Representative · R-MO
The bill improves detection and response to dangerous or unauthorized drones—strengthening airport and facility security and giving local agencies tools and funding—while creating significant privacy, safety, property, oversight, and legal‑remedy risks that require strong transparency, limits, and accountability measures.
Travelers, airport personnel, and the broader flying public gain stronger protection because the FAA and participating agencies can detect and mitigate rogue or threatening UAS in and near airports and the national airspace.
State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement can receive threat information and access FAA-administered counter‑UAS authorities to coordinate responses faster, improving local response capability at high‑risk facilities and events.
Federal oversight, standardized training/equipment approval, and a structured pilot program with reporting to Congress creates a framework to evaluate effectiveness and civil‑liberties impacts before any permanent expansion of authority.
Residents near airports, tribal lands, and communities may have communications or data intercepted and shared without operator consent, raising substantial privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns.
Use of jamming, interference, or other counter‑UAS measures could disrupt legitimate communications or aviation systems and create safety hazards for the public and aircraft.
Owners of UAS risk loss of private property and financial costs if devices are seized, disabled, or destroyed, with limited recourse or compensation mechanisms.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Allows the FAA to authorize and oversee designated state/local/Tribal/territorial law enforcement use of approved counter‑UAS systems (including interception and disruption) via a 3‑year pilot and subsequent regulation.
Official title: To authorize counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities for State, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Eric Burlison · Last progress February 12, 2026
Authorizes the FAA to allow State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement to deploy approved counter‑drone (counter‑UAS) systems to detect, track, monitor, warn, seize, disrupt, disable, damage, or destroy unmanned aircraft that pose credible threats to covered facilities or assets. It creates a three‑year FAA pilot program that can designate up to 4,000 law enforcement agencies (phased in) beginning 60 days after enactment, requires pilot evaluations and subsequent permanent policy/regulation, and permits certain interceptions of UAS control signals while imposing limits on retention and sharing of intercepted communications.