The bill amends the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act to establish a registry for unmanned aircraft operated by public entities in Michigan. The Department of Transportation is tasked with maintaining this registry, which will include information such as the name of the public entity, operator details, identification of the unmanned aircraft, and its intended use. Additionally, the department is required to submit an annual report to the legislature regarding the activities of public entities related to unmanned aircraft operations.

Furthermore, the bill outlines regulations that prohibit public entities from purchasing unmanned aircraft or related services from certain countries, businesses, or entities identified on specific federal lists, including those related to national defense and sanctions. It allows for exceptions if the public entity ensures that any data collected is stored exclusively in the U.S. and complies with federal laws. The bill also clarifies definitions related to public entities and third parties, and it specifies that these regulations do not apply to small unmanned aircraft systems that comply with existing laws.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 259.301, 259.331