Sponsors (11)
The bill increases local ability to detect and counter dangerous drones at public events—potentially improving safety—while expanding surveillance powers and imposing costs and oversight challenges that could raise privacy, consistency, and resource concerns.
Event attendees, bystanders, and law enforcement at large public gatherings gain faster local detection and response to hostile or unsafe UAS, improving public safety at stadiums and other crowded venues.
Law enforcement agencies and deputized officers receive required training and interagency oversight structures, which should reduce misuse and promote more consistent, lawful counter‑UAS operations.
Law enforcement and local governments will be limited to an authorized list of detection/tracking equipment developed with the FCC and NTIA, reducing the risk of deploying untested or particularly privacy‑invasive technologies.
Attendees and bystanders in public spaces face expanded law enforcement surveillance capabilities, increasing privacy and civil liberties risks despite restrictions on equipment types.
Delegating counter‑UAS authority broadly to many state and local officers risks inconsistent application and operational errors if oversight and resourcing are insufficient, potentially creating safety or security gaps.
State and local governments and law enforcement may face new costs for training and approved equipment, potentially straining budgets and forcing tradeoffs with other local priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits DHS or DOJ to deputize trained state/local officers to use federal counter-UAS authority to protect flight-restricted sites and large public gatherings, with oversight and approved equipment only.
Introduced May 6, 2025 by W. Greg Steube · Last progress May 6, 2025
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to deputize state or local law enforcement officers to use existing federal counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft system) authority for the narrow purpose of protecting sites with flight restrictions and large public gatherings. Deputized officers must complete DHS/DOJ-specified training, operate under federal oversight coordinated with DOT/FAA, and may only use detection/identification/monitoring/tracking technologies on a federally authorized equipment list developed with relevant agencies.