This bill adds a new section to chapter 43.17 RCW creating a statutory restriction on state and local government acquisition, funding, and use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). It prohibits state or local agencies, including law enforcement, from purchasing or otherwise acquiring sUAS manufactured or assembled by a "covered foreign entity," prohibits using state or local agency funds for such sUAS (including funds awarded through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements), and bars public entities from operating such sUAS on or after July 1, 2026. The bill defines key terms in the new section. "Covered foreign entity" includes entities on certain U.S. Commerce Department lists, entities domiciled in the People’s Republic of China or the Russian Federation, entities under the influence or control of those governments, and their subsidiaries or affiliates. "Small unmanned aircraft system" is defined as an unmanned, powered aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds (including payload), whether expendable or recoverable, operated without direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft. "Agency" is defined by reference to RCW 42.56.010. The act takes effect January 1, 2026; the bill was read for the first time on January 27, 2025. The provided text does not define the term "public entity" used in the operation prohibition, does not include the text of RCW 42.56.010, and does not reproduce the referenced Commerce Department lists, so their specific scope on the effective date is not shown. The excerpt also contains no enforcement mechanisms, penalties, compliance procedures, exceptions, or transition rules.

If enacted, state and local agencies (including law enforcement) would have to stop buying or acquiring small drones made or assembled by entities tied to the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or those on specified U.S. Commerce Department lists, and they could not use state or local funds in contracts, grants, or agreements for those drones beginning when the law takes effect on January 1, 2026; public entities would also be barred from operating such drones on or after July 1, 2026. The covered-entity definition is broad (including domiciliaries, entities under foreign government control, and subsidiaries/affiliates), so many current suppliers could be affected. Practically, agencies will likely need to change procurement choices, rework contracts and grants, and potentially replace or divest existing equipment, which could raise costs and disrupt operations—especially for law enforcement and public safety programs that rely on sUAS. Key implementation details are unclear from the text provided: the bill does not define “public entity” here, does not include the Commerce Department list entries, and contains no enforcement, penalty, or transition rules, so agencies will face uncertainty in identifying covered manufacturers and ensuring compliance.