North Carolina Senate Bill 670 (2025): Restrictions on Drones from Certain Vendors
Sponsors: Senators B. Newton, Brinson, and Daniel (Primary Sponsors). Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
The North Carolina Senate has introduced Bill 670, which prohibits the purchase or acquisition of small unmanned aircraft systems from specific foreign entities by the state or any of its political divisions. This legislation aims to restrict the use of state funds for acquiring drones manufactured or assembled by covered foreign entities.
Key Provisions of the Bill
According to the bill:
- No state entity can procure small unmanned aircraft systems from any foreign manufacturer classified as a covered entity.
- State resources, including funds allocated through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, are also barred from being used for these purchases.
Definitions
The bill outlines critical definitions:
- Covered foreign entity: This term refers to any of the following:
- Entities listed on the United States Consolidated Screening List or Entity List.
- Organizations based in the People’s Republic of China or the Russian Federation.
- Entities under the influence or control of the Chinese or Russian governments.
- Affiliates or subsidiaries of those entities.
- Small unmanned aircraft system: Defined as a powered aircraft operated without direct human intervention, weighing less than 55 pounds, and can be either expendable or recoverable.
Effective Date: The provisions of this act will take effect upon becoming law and will apply to purchases made on or after July 1, 2027.
For further details, you can download the full text of the bill here: Download Bill S670.
Relevant Links
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Attribution: Original Article
