State rules on foreign drones for public agencies.
The federal rules are the floor. Four states have built on it with their own purchase and use deadlines for public agencies, and more are drafting. Here is what each says, with the date.
| State | Who it binds | What it does | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | State agencies and local governments | Prohibits use of drones from named foreign manufacturers; agencies replaced in-service aircraft | Law from 2022; in force |
| Connecticut | State agencies, municipalities, and entities contracting with them | Bars purchase of prohibited foreign drones, then bars their use | Purchase ban after 2026-10-01; use ban after 2028-10-01 |
| Tennessee | Public agencies including police and fire | Restricts use of drones from named foreign manufacturers | In force |
| Texas | State agencies | Stops purchases of drones from named countries, then retires existing ones | Purchases stop 2026-01-01; retire existing by 2031 |
The federal floor under every state
- December 22, 2025: all foreign-produced drones and critical components on the FCC Covered List; no new authorizations; federal funds no longer buy them.
- May 2026: FCC waiver extended so existing foreign aircraft keep updates through at least January 1, 2029.
- September 3, 2026: Section 232 tariffs of 25 to 100 percent on imported drones and components.
What people do when they read the wrong jurisdiction
A Texas sheriff reads the Florida story and parks a legal fleet. A Connecticut chief reads the federal waiver and misses the October 2026 purchase deadline. Read your own state's law, then the federal rules, then your grant terms, in that order. The strictest one governs.
Replacing on a schedule instead of a deadline
Every state above names manufacturers or countries rather than an approved list, so any aircraft built without restricted components qualifies. EnCor's aircraft are designed and built in Tulsa, Oklahoma, without Section 889 covered components, at published prices. The replacement guides match the aircraft to the job, and the grants guides cover how public agencies pay for it.
Questions buyers ask
Does my state ban DJI drones for police and fire?
Four states have enacted restrictions on foreign-made drones for public agencies as of this writing: Florida, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Texas, each on its own schedule. Others are considering bills. Check your state before setting a replacement date, and treat the federal rules as the floor everywhere.
What is the federal floor?
Since December 22, 2025 new foreign-made drones cannot receive FCC authorization and federal funds cannot buy them. Existing aircraft stay legal, with updates through at least January 1, 2029.
Does a state rule apply to a private company?
Usually not. These laws bind state agencies, local governments, and often their contractors. A private operator follows the federal rules unless a state law says otherwise.
What counts as a compliant replacement in these states?
Each law names the restricted countries or manufacturers rather than an approved list, so an aircraft built without restricted components qualifies. Some agencies adopt Blue UAS as a shortcut. EnCor aircraft are built in Tulsa, Oklahoma, without Section 889 covered components; EnCor does not claim a Blue UAS listing.
- UAV Coach, "The DJI Ban: Everything You Need to Know [New for 2026]" (Florida), accessed 2026-09-06.
- Connecticut lawmakers back prohibition on state agencies and local governments using foreign drones (Yahoo News, CT Mirror), accessed 2026-09-06.
- ABJ Drone Academy, "What House Bill 41 Means for You and Texas Drones", accessed 2026-09-06.
- DroneLife, "Texas considers ban on Chinese drones for state agencies", 2025-04-18.
- Axon, "New drone laws take effect: What public safety agencies need to know" (Tennessee), accessed 2026-09-06.
- EnCor, "The FCC Covered List and foreign drones", 2026-09-04.
Dates to know
- Texas: state purchases stopped 2026-01-01
- Connecticut: purchases barred after 2026-10-01
- Connecticut: use barred after 2028-10-01
- Federal: updates end no earlier than 2029-01-01
- Texas: existing aircraft retired by 2031