In 2024, state and local governments continued to find versatile uses for the technology. There were nationwide deployments of drone-as-first-responder programs to guide law enforcement decisions about how best to respond to calls. Florida experimented with delivering medical supplies before EMS would arrive on scene, while Washington state employees used drones to track seal and sea lion populations.
While there’s no comprehensive data on government drone use, anecdotal evidence and isolated statistics paint a clear picture: drone adoption is skyrocketing.
In Minnesota, for example, law enforcement agencies reported a staggering 268 percent increase in drone deployments between 2020 and 2023.
Before launching a drone program, government leaders need to be aware of the evolving legal landscape, potential security risks and the critical importance of community engagement. Here’s the latest state and local governments need to know about the ever-changing landscape ahead.
THE DJI DILEMMA
The dominant manufacturer in the drone industry for both hobby and professional use is DJI, a Chinese company. The potential for cybersecurity risks using DJI products has long been debated both by federal and local government agencies.
The federal government is again considering restricting or banning Chinese drones in the U.S., as the Department of Commerce is opening a public comment period on potential new rules for foreign involvement in the drone supply chain. This could lead to restrictions on the use of certain drone components in government agencies, with lasting impacts on procurement and operations. The public and stakeholders have until March 4, 2025, to weigh in on the proposed regulations before the agency decides how to proceed.
Meanwhile, in 2025 more state governments are limiting their agencies from buying or using DJI products.
ANevada law enacted Jan. 1, granted the state more power to dictate which drones agencies can purchase and how they can use them. This includes a potential ban on certain vendors such as DJI, and strict limitations on data collection during inspections.
Mississippi’s new drone law also went into effect Jan. 1, mandating that all state agencies must purchase drones exclusively from U.S. manufacturers, with a 10 percent bid preference given to Mississippi-based companies. The law also explicitly bans drones manufactured in China or containing a significant amount of Chinese parts.
Florida has already banned government agencies from using DJI drones, while Arkansas moved to prohibit public entities from purchasing drones manufactured or assembled by companies tied to countries considered national security risks, specifically mentioning China and Russia.
To prevent a disruption of services, government agencies should be mindful of the potential for a federal or state ban of certain products during procurement and purchasing of drone technology.
WHO CONTROLS THE SKIES?
A series of unexplained drone sightings over New Jersey in late 2024 reignited a long-simmering debate: Who has the authority to take down unauthorized or threatening drones? The incident exposed the limitations faced by state and local law enforcement agencies, who often lack the legal authority and technological capabilities to effectively respond to such threats.
Last month, New Jersey lawmakers passed a resolution urging the federal government to investigate unidentified drones operating in the state’s airspace, citing that the drones had been spotted in more than dozen counties.
While there was an attempt by lawmakers to pass legislation that would have provided local departments the right to disrupt, seize or disable drones as well as provide technology that safely disables a threatening drone, it was blocked by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who expressed concerns about granting governments more surveillance powers.
But the debate isn’t over. Tennessee Rep. Mark Green asserted during an interview with radio show Super Talk 99.7 WTN that passing a drone bill to grant local and state law enforcement the authority to take down drones would be a top priority of his for the next congressional session.
“DHS, DOD, those guys can’t be everywhere at one time but local law enforcement, with the right criteria and with the right equipment, can disable a drone and take it down and then find out what it is,” Green said in the interview.
This debate has significant implications for public safety and the future of drone regulation. While counter-drone technology offers a potential solution, it also raises concerns about cost, effectiveness and the potential for misuse.
