Sponsors (2)
The bill empowers state and local authorities with regulated tools and oversight to counter dangerous drones—improving public-safety and reducing interference risks—while increasing privacy/surveillance exposure, the potential for accidental disruption to aircraft/communications, and local implementation costs.
Event attendees, venue staff, and nearby communities: state and local officers may disable or counter dangerous drones at large public events, reducing immediate risks of injury, disruption, or malicious surveillance.
State and local law-enforcement agencies: federally required training and oversight create consistent procedures and accountability that reduce misuse of counter-UAS tools.
Transportation workers and communications operators: restricting detection/tracking equipment to an FCC/NTIA-authorized list limits harmful interference with aviation and communications systems.
Event attendees and nearby residents: expanded law-enforcement authority to monitor and counter UAS increases privacy and surveillance risks at public events and in surrounding areas.
Transportation workers, air travelers, and the public: use of counter-UAS technologies risks accidental disruption of lawful aircraft or communications if oversight or equipment limits fail, creating safety hazards.
State and local governments and law-enforcement: required training and compliance impose costs that local budgets must fund, potentially diverting resources from other services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes DHS or the AG to deputize trained state/local officers to exercise federal counter-UAS authority at certain flight-restricted sites and large public gatherings, with oversight and an authorized equipment list.
Official title: Authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to deputize a State or local law enforcement officer to protect certain events with temporary flight restrictions, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 20, 2025 by Thomas Bryant Cotton · Last progress February 20, 2025
Authorizes the Department of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to deputize trained state or local law enforcement officers to exercise existing federal counter-UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) authorities to protect certain flight-restricted sites and large public gatherings. Deputized officers must complete DHS/DOJ-approved training, operate under DHS/DOJ and DOT/FAA oversight, and use only detection/monitoring equipment from a federal authorized-equipment list developed with DOJ, FAA, FCC, and NTIA.