HR7525-119

What This Bill Does

This bill gives the FAA Administrator counter-UAS authority and creates pilot programs for non-federal law enforcement. The FAA may detect, identify, monitor, track, seize, control, confiscate, disrupt, disable, damage, or destroy unmanned aircraft systems that pose credible threats to the national airspace system, and may test counter-UAS systems. Certain aircraft-sabotage, computer-crime, communications-interception, and pen-register laws do not apply to authorized activities, but the FAA must protect First and Fourth Amendment interests, limit communications interception to what is necessary, promptly dispose of records unless needed for investigations or other authorized purposes, and share only non-communications threat information as needed. The bill also requires a 3-year pilot designating up to 1,000 law enforcement agencies in the first year, up to 3,000 additional agencies the next year, and no more than 4,000 total, plus a separate FIFA World Cup pilot of up to 40 agencies near host cities.

Who Benefits and How

The FAA, state law enforcement agencies, local law enforcement agencies, Tribal law enforcement agencies, territorial law enforcement agencies, airport operators, World Cup host cities, and communities around covered facilities benefit from authority to mitigate credible drone threats. Approved counter-UAS technology providers may benefit from FAA-approved equipment demand.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The FAA must approve systems, establish application processes within 60 days, consult FCC and NTIA, set training criteria, oversee pilots, report to Congress every 6 months, handle privacy complaints, and issue permanent policies after the pilot. Participating law enforcement agencies must use approved equipment, adopt written privacy policies, train personnel, report uses within 180 days, and follow FAA guidance. Drone operators near covered assets may have drones tracked, seized, disrupted, disabled, damaged, or destroyed.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes FAA counter-UAS actions to detect or mitigate credible unmanned-aircraft threats to the national airspace system.
• Exempts authorized counter-UAS activities from specified aircraft, computer-crime, wiretap, and pen-register restrictions while imposing privacy and records limits.
• Creates a 3-year pilot for up to 4,000 state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to use FAA-approved counter-UAS systems.
• Requires FAA consultation with FCC and NTIA to approve systems and training criteria.
• Requires written policies, training, use reports, and 6-month congressional updates on law enforcement use and privacy or civil-liberties complaints.
• Creates a separate 2026 FIFA World Cup counter-UAS pilot for up to 40 agencies around host cities.