HR6042-119

What This Bill Does

The LANDED Act defines covered counter-UAS systems and threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems, then directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General and FAA Administrator, to establish policies, procedures, protocols, and an application process allowing each State law enforcement agency to acquire, deploy, operate, and train with approved counter-UAS mitigation systems. DHS-approved agreements must specify the equipment, threat-response authority, dates and circumstances of use, safety terms, site visits, and post-event reporting. Approved State agencies may authorize personnel to detect, identify, monitor, track, or mitigate credible UAS threats notwithstanding specified aviation, computer-crime, wiretap, and radio-interference laws. FAA must consider FCC criteria for avoiding disruption to civilian communications and information technology networks. DHS and FAA must also create a mandatory nonemergency deconfliction reporting system with a database of transponder IDs and dates and times for government drones in use. DHS may rapidly respond to State emergency requests. The bill creates a Counter-UAS Security Grant Program for State law enforcement and emergency management agencies to acquire approved equipment, pay training fees, and carry out related administrative activities, with funds available for at least 24 months. Finally, the DOD Inspector General must report within 90 days on potential foreign-adversary-connected UAS activity over military installations, vessels, aircraft, sensitive national security sites, law enforcement assets, and the homeland, including information-sharing and deployment processes.

Who Benefits and How

State law enforcement agencies benefit because they can seek DHS authorization to acquire, deploy, operate, and train with approved counter-UAS mitigation systems. Local law enforcement agencies benefit when State agencies delegate approved counter-UAS authority for protection of people, facilities, or assets. Counter-UAS equipment manufacturers and training providers benefit from the new authorization framework and security grant program. Emergency management agencies benefit because they are eligible for grants to acquire counter-UAS equipment and training. Critical infrastructure operators, military installations, and public-safety sites benefit from a formal process for mitigating unauthorized drone threats. Congress benefits from a DOD Inspector General review of foreign-adversary-connected drone activity and executive-branch information sharing.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DHS, DOJ, FAA, FCC, and CBP officials must create application procedures, performance requirements, safety terms, communications-interference criteria, agreements, site visits, and reporting rules. State and local law enforcement agencies operating counter-UAS systems must comply with approved deployment windows, post-event reporting, deconfliction checks, and training requirements. Commercial and recreational drone operators face increased risk of detection, monitoring, disruption, or mitigation when flights are treated as credible threats. Government agencies operating drones must report nonemergency drone operations into the deconfliction database and check transponder status. DOD Inspector General staff must complete a rapid 90-day review of UAS activity over military, national security, and homeland sites. Civilian communications and information-technology networks require safeguards against counter-UAS radio-frequency or cellular-network interference.

Key Provisions

• Defines approved counter-UAS systems and threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems.
• Requires DHS, DOJ, and FAA to establish policies and an application process for State law enforcement counter-UAS mitigation authority.
• Authorizes approved State agencies to detect, monitor, track, and mitigate credible drone threats notwithstanding specified federal statutes.
• Requires FAA to consider FCC criteria for avoiding disruption to civilian communications and information technology networks.
• Requires mandatory nonemergency drone deconfliction reporting for federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
• Authorizes rapid DHS response to State emergency requests for UAS mitigation assistance.
• Establishes a Counter-UAS Security Grant Program for State law enforcement and emergency management agencies.
• Requires a DOD Inspector General report on foreign-adversary-connected UAS activity and information sharing.