Arizona Public Safety Grants

SB 1683: What Arizona Enacted

A.R.S. § 33-443(B) prohibits a foreign adversary nation or foreign adversary agent from installing, maintaining, operating or having access to data of equipment on real property in Arizona that includes uncrewed or autonomous systems, antennas, communications systems, surveillance devices or sensors. The statute defines the covered actors; a product's foreign manufacturing location alone does not establish that a buyer or vendor falls within that definition.

The law addresses arrangements intended to evade its restrictions and has a CFIUS clearance or mitigation-agreement exception. Beginning January 1, 2027, specified entities, including government agencies, must provide notice to the attorney general and Corporation Commission about certain existing or suspected leases, licenses or colocation agreements that may have allowed covered equipment installation.

Federal Dollars Change the UAS Test

OMB M-26-02, Appendix D implements the American Security Drone Act restriction for federal grants, cooperative agreements and other awards. Since December 22, 2025, recipients and subrecipients generally may not use those funds to procure a FASC-prohibited UAS or in connection with its operation, unless an applicable exemption or waiver applies.

FAR 40.202 addresses federal executive-agency acquisitions; grant recipients should also read Appendix D and their award documents. Ask the administrator whether the proposed aircraft, payloads, related services and operating costs are approved in the project scope.

Surveillance, FCC, TAA and Blue UAS

2 CFR § 200.216 restricts use of federal award funds for certain covered telecommunications and video-surveillance equipment and services. NDAA Section 889 is a distinct federal-contract framework; evaluate its terms and any award flow-down separately.

FCC UAS Covered List guidance concerns equipment authorization of certain foreign-produced drones and critical components and does not automatically revoke previously authorized models. TAA country-of-origin rules apply to covered federal procurements, while Blue UAS listing may be required by a particular buyer or award; neither is a universal Arizona grant requirement.

Flight Rules and Arizona Missions

A.R.S. § 13-3729 prohibits UAS operations contrary to federal aeronautics rules or interfering with emergency services; it also addresses intentional photography or loitering over or near a critical facility in furtherance of a crime. Its ticketed-event provision covers certain operations within one mile horizontally or vertically, subject to listed exceptions.

Subsection E excludes specified operations authorized by the FAA and official-capacity first-responder, government-employee and emergency-worker operations. Agencies still need the relevant FAA operating authority and airspace permission. Document the mission, privacy safeguards, data retention and any property or facility permissions.

Match the Funding to the Mission

• AZDOHS SHSGP, Phoenix UASI and OPSG: align preparedness, regional interoperability or eligible border-security needs with the current state investment process.
• ACJC JAG, AzSCIP and DGVCC: identify criminal-justice outcomes, approved technology categories and the state program's current priorities.
• AATA vehicle-theft grants: tie investigative equipment, training or prevention tools to vehicle-theft reduction.
• GOHS: use the current federal fiscal year proposal guide to justify traffic enforcement or records projects; do not presume general UAS eligibility.
• SLCGP: check the current FEMA/CISA notice and Arizona process for eligible cybersecurity projects.

Practical Arizona Technology Procurement Checklist

1. 1Identify the funding source. Record state, local, federal and pass-through funds, including operating costs.
2. 2Check Arizona relationships. For equipment on Arizona property, evaluate foreign-adversary nation or agent status, installation, maintenance, operations and data access under A.R.S. § 33-443.
3. 3Read the award. Verify current grant eligibility, allowable costs, prior approval, domestic-preference clauses and the project narrative.
4. 4Screen the UAS. For federal award funds, assess FASC-prohibited status under OMB M-26-02 Appendix D and document any applicable exemption or waiver.
5. 5Check connected components. Review 2 CFR § 200.216, any Section 889 clauses, FCC authorization, and any Blue UAS requirement separately.
6. 6Map the data path. Document the camera, radio, controller, cloud host, firmware, remote vendor access, encryption and retention controls.
7. 7Check the mission location. Apply A.R.S. § 13-3729, FAA operating authority and airspace rules, and any facility or event permissions.
8. 8Preserve the record. Keep the precise bill of materials, vendor evidence, approvals, cybersecurity review and any waiver with the purchase file.