This bill aims to establish "The Act to Prohibit the Purchase of Small Unmanned Aircrafts Manufactured or Assembled by a Covered Foreign Entity" in West Virginia law. It introduces definitions for key terms, including "Covered Foreign Entity," which refers to individuals or entities from specific countries, such as China and Russia, that are involved in activities contrary to U.S. national security. The bill prohibits public entities from purchasing or acquiring small unmanned aircraft systems from these covered foreign entities and restricts the use of state funds for such purchases. Additionally, starting May 1, 2029, public entities will not be allowed to operate these aircraft.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a drone replacement grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to assist public safety agencies affected by these prohibitions. This program will provide funding for agencies that turn in non-compliant drones, allowing them to acquire compliant systems and training. The grant funds will be allocated based on the current purchase value of the drones and will only be used for compliant systems. The Department of Homeland Security is tasked with developing an application process for the grant program, which will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-17-1, 15-17-2, 15-17-3, 15-17-4