Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act

This bill authorizes state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement to use counter-drone (counter-UAS) systems to detect, track, and mitigate threats from unmanned aircraft, under FAA oversight and through pilot programs that lead to permanent authorization.

Sec. 2, FAA counter-UAS activities: The FAA Administrator may detect, track, seize, disable, or destroy unmanned aircraft to address credible threats to the national airspace or to test counter-UAS equipment. These actions are exempt from certain federal criminal laws, but must comply with the First and Fourth Amendments, limit interception of communications, and dispose of records promptly unless needed for investigations or security operations.

Sec. 3, Pilot programs and permanent authorization for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement: The FAA must create pilot programs to test approved counter-UAS systems at covered facilities. Up to 1,000 agencies can be designated in the first year, up to 3,000 more in the second year, and no more than 4,000 total over three years. A separate pilot program for the 2026 FIFA World Cup allows up to 40 agencies in host cities to operate from March 1 to September 30, 2026. After the pilot programs end, any properly registered state, local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement agency may permanently use approved counter-UAS systems to mitigate credible threats to covered facilities or assets, subject to FAA-approved plans, training, privacy protections, and reporting requirements. Funding may come from existing federal grant programs.