The proposed bill would amend current statutes by introducing new regulations regarding the operation of unmanned aircraft in Arizona, specifically those manufactured or assembled by covered foreign entities. Under the new law, starting December 31, 2028, it would be prohibited for the state, state agencies, independent contractors, or individuals in Arizona to operate such unmanned aircraft for collecting data on restricted critical infrastructure unless specific security measures are in place. These measures include the use of United States security software compliant with national standards or secure firewall technology to prevent data extraction by foreign entities.

Additionally, the bill mandates that an independent third party must verify annually that the security measures comply with standards set by the Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security. The bill also requires these departments to designate critical infrastructure as restricted on a site-specific basis, considering factors such as data sensitivity and the availability of similar data from other sources. Importantly, the bill exempts certain state agencies, including law enforcement, from these prohibitions, ensuring they can continue to operate unmanned aircraft as needed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-4274