Arkansas Funding + Procurement Intelligence
Arkansas Public Safety Grants
Arkansas-specific funding pathways, historical formula allocations, drone and UAS procurement requirements, foreign-technology restrictions, federal-funding compliance considerations, cybersecurity planning, and practical purchasing resources for law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, schools, GIS, public works, and other public-safety organizations.
Last reviewed: September 26, 2026
This Arkansas page is part of the MAXSUR Public Safety Grant Resource Center, but its purpose is broader than simply listing grant programs. It is designed to help Arkansas agencies connect funding, procurement, technology selection, cybersecurity, and compliance before a project reaches the purchase-order stage.
For an overview of federal terms, see NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS Explained; the Arkansas rules and funding examples below add state-specific context.
Arkansas is especially important for public-safety drone buyers because the state has enacted its own UAS supply-chain restrictions. Act 525 of 2023 prohibits a public entity from purchasing a small unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity and establishes an additional operational restriction beginning May 1, 2027.
Federal funding creates a separate compliance layer. FAR 40.202 restricts federal executive-agency procurement and operation. Separately, OMB M-26-02, Appendix D restricts recipients and subrecipients from using federal award funds to procure or in connection with operating FASC-prohibited UAS beginning December 22, 2025, subject to specified exemptions and waivers.
Use this page as a planning resource, then verify current deadlines, award terms, allowable costs, Arkansas procurement requirements, federal restrictions, cybersecurity requirements, contract clauses, and agency policy with the official funding source and your legal or procurement team as appropriate.
Arkansas planning note: Act 525 should be read carefully rather than summarized simply as an “NDAA-compliance” rule. The Arkansas statute defines its own covered foreign entities and applies directly to public entities. It also distinguishes the underlying public-entity purchase and operation prohibitions from provisions governing the use of state funds. Agencies considering an exception or waiver should verify exactly which statutory restriction can be waived before relying on that process.
Arkansas Drone Procurement & Compliance
Act 525, Federal Grant Funds and Secure UAS Purchasing
Arkansas has an enacted state restriction on certain government UAS purchases and a May 1, 2027 operational cutoff for affected fleets. Federal grants add a separate country-of-origin and security review. Start with the exact aircraft, manufacturer, assembler, funding source and mission, then evaluate the applicable rules.
Act 525 Is in Effect
A public entity cannot purchase a covered foreign-entity small UAS, regardless of whether the purchase is paid for with state, local or federal funds.
May 1, 2027 Cutoff
On or after this date, a public entity cannot operate an affected small UAS. Inventory existing fleets and budget for replacement, training and accessories.
ASDA Funding Restriction
Since December 22, 2025, recipients and subrecipients generally cannot use federal award funds to procure or in connection with operating a FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to specified exemptions and waivers.
State Contracts & Image Use
Act 758 covers certain state-agency contracts with majority PRC-government-owned companies; Act 597 governs certain drone-captured images and their use.
What Act 525 Actually Covers
The statute defines a covered foreign entity by specified federal screening lists, domicile in the People's Republic of China or Russian Federation, influence or control by those governments, and relevant subsidiaries or affiliates. Its public entity definition reaches the state and political subdivisions, including listed boards, authorities, commissions, agencies and other entities.
The small-UAS definition covers an aircraft under 55 pounds and associated elements required for safe operation, including communication links and control components. Ask the vendor to document the manufacturer and assembler of the proposed configuration; a marketing label or aircraft brand alone is insufficient evidence.
State Funds and the Waiver's Limited Wording
Act 525 separately prohibits use of state funds to purchase an affected small UAS or in connection with its operation. The May 1, 2027 date expressly appears in the public-entity operation provision, not the separate state-funding provision. The TSS Secretary may waive the state-funding restrictions in subdivisions (b)(2) or (c)(2) after reviewing necessity due to exigent circumstances, counter-UAS or criminal investigative purposes and notifying the General Assembly.
The waiver text names those two state-funding subdivisions. It does not expressly waive the separate public-entity purchase restriction in (b)(1) or operation restriction in (c)(1). Obtain written legal and TSS guidance before relying on a waiver for any proposed purchase or operation.
Federal Grants Require Their Own UAS Screen
FAR 40.202 governs federal executive-agency acquisitions and operations. For Arkansas grant recipients and subrecipients, OMB M-26-02, Appendix D states the separate American Security Drone Act restriction on use of federal award funds to procure or in connection with operating FASC-prohibited UAS as of December 22, 2025, subject to specified exemptions and federal waivers.
The federal and Arkansas definitions are distinct. Review the current award notice, pass-through terms and purchasing rules before writing UAS costs into a JAG, homeland-security or other grant proposal. OMB M-26-02 also addresses security capabilities for federal awards funding UAS that process, store or transmit federal information.
Surveillance, Cybersecurity and Operations
Act 758 restricts state-agency contracts with a company majority owned by the PRC government or with such a company as subcontractor; its defined scope should not be generalized into a ban on every product made in China. Act 597 of 2025 addresses drone image capture, possession and use, including statutory exceptions; agencies should review its operational requirements separately.
For drones and connected surveillance systems, document cameras, modems, communications links, cloud storage, remote access, data location, firmware-update source and third-party service paths. Federal Section 889 telecommunications and video-surveillance restrictions may also be relevant to covered federal transactions or award conditions, separately from Act 525.
NDAA, TAA, FCC and Blue UAS Answer Different Questions
“NDAA compliant” is a shorthand, not a single certificate. TAA country-of-origin rules apply in covered federal acquisitions, not automatically to every Arkansas local grant purchase. FCC equipment authorization addresses communications equipment and does not certify a complete UAS for Arkansas procurement. Blue UAS can support platform and supply-chain diligence, but a listing does not replace the exact statutory, funding and configuration review.
Read MAXSUR's NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS Explained for the broader federal framework.
Practical Arkansas UAS Procurement Checklist
- Identify the public entity and funding. Record local, state, federal direct and federal pass-through funds, plus every applicable award condition.
- Screen under Act 525. Verify manufacturer, assembler, domicile, government control, federal list status and affiliates for the exact small-UAS configuration.
- Apply the federal award test separately. For federal dollars, check the ASDA/OMB Appendix D FASC-prohibited UAS rule and current award terms; do not equate it with the FAR rule for federal agencies.
- Check other technology restrictions. Review Act 758 for covered state contracts and Section 889 or other conditions for connected cameras, radios and networking components when applicable.
- Map data and software paths. Document video, telemetry, cloud storage, remote support, credentials, firmware updates and retention controls.
- Plan the May 1, 2027 fleet transition. Include aircraft, controllers, batteries, payloads, training, spares, records and operational continuity.
- Review mission rules. Check Act 597's image provisions, FAA authorizations, agency privacy/evidence policies and location-specific restrictions.
- Keep an audit-ready file. Preserve vendor representations, system bill of materials, security review, award approval, legal analysis and any valid exception or waiver.
Need the broader federal picture? Read NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS Explained. This Arkansas guide adds the state-specific rules and grant pathways.
Additional Arkansas UAS Law
Arkansas Also Regulates How Drone-Captured Images May Be Collected and Used
Procurement compliance is only one part of an Arkansas drone program. Act 597 of 2025, the Arkansas Privacy Act, addressed certain images captured by unmanned aircraft systems, created offenses involving unlawful image capture or use, and established circumstances in which UAS image capture is lawful.
Act 597 addresses UAS image capture
Arkansas's 2025 legislation created additional rules concerning images captured by unmanned aircraft systems. Public-safety agencies should consider those operational requirements separately from Act 525's procurement and supply-chain restrictions.
Procurement approval does not answer every operational question
A legally purchasable aircraft can still be subject to privacy, evidence, records, warrant, airspace, agency-policy, and mission-specific requirements. Procurement and operational authorization should be treated as separate program controls.
Apply similar diligence to connected surveillance technology
Even when Act 525 does not apply to a non-UAS surveillance product, agencies may still want to document manufacturer ownership, communications hardware, cloud architecture, remote access, firmware support, data storage, cybersecurity controls, and applicable federal funding restrictions.
Available Funding Pathways
Arkansas Grant Opportunities
Arkansas agencies can start with DFA-administered criminal-justice funding, ADEM preparedness grants and selected direct federal programs. A listed pathway is not a promise that drone or surveillance costs are eligible. Confirm the current notice, applicant eligibility, allowable costs, state pass-through process, procurement rules and award conditions.
| Grant | Level | Source | Best Fit / Technology | Deadline Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas DFA — JAG Local Law Enforcement Grant Program | State-administered federal | DFA / BJA | Local criminal-justice projects for jurisdictions not eligible for a direct federal JAG allocation; verify equipment and UAS allowability. | Check DFA notice |
| Arkansas DFA — Byrne JAG State Program | State-administered federal | DFA / BJA | State and local criminal-justice priorities, including eligible equipment and technology tied to the approved plan. | Check DFA notice |
| Arkansas DFA — Local Law Enforcement Block Grants | State | DFA | Local crime prevention, enforcement and criminal-justice service improvements; confirm equipment eligibility. | Check DFA notice |
| BJA — JAG Local Formula Program | Federal | BJA | Eligible Arkansas jurisdictions listed in the current federal local JAG allocation table; technology must serve a permissible justice purpose. | Check current solicitation |
| Arkansas DFA — Project Safe Neighborhoods | State-administered federal | DFA / DOJ | Violent-crime reduction partnerships, investigation, analytic and coordination needs in approved plans. | Check DFA notice |
| Arkansas DFA — RSAT | State-administered federal | DFA / BJA | Residential substance-use treatment and reentry support in state/local correctional facilities. | Check DFA notice |
| FEMA — State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) | Federal / state pass-through | FEMA / ADEM | Approved preparedness capabilities, interoperable communications and eligible equipment; coordinate with ADEM and current notice. | Check ADEM guidance |
| FEMA — Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) | Federal / state pass-through | FEMA / ADEM | Emergency-management planning, operations, training and eligible equipment under state priorities. | Check ADEM guidance |
| FEMA — Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) | Federal | FEMA | Fire-service equipment, training and safety needs; confirm whether any proposed technology is eligible in current notice. | Check current solicitation |
| BJA — Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program | Federal | BJA | Deflection, overdose response, data sharing and coordinated treatment projects. | Check current solicitation |
| BJA — Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants | Federal / state | BJA | Laboratory capacity, quality assurance, evidence and forensic technology. | Check current solicitation |
| BJA — DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction | Federal | BJA | DNA laboratory capacity and backlog-reduction equipment and personnel. | Check current solicitation |
| BJA — STOP School Violence Program | Federal | BJA | School threat assessment, reporting and safety training or technology under the current award rules. | Check current solicitation |
| COPS Office — Technology and Equipment Program | Federal | COPS Office | Congressionally directed technology and equipment projects; confirm eligibility before planning an application. | Congressionally directed |
| OJJDP — Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force | Federal | OJJDP | Task-force digital-forensics and child-exploitation investigative capacity for eligible grantees. | Check current solicitation |
Application status: These are program pathways, not confirmed open competitions. Check each official program page for the current cycle; award funds used for UAS may carry the ASDA/OMB restriction and additional cybersecurity terms.
Formula Funding Reference
FY2024 Arkansas Local JAG Allocation Examples
The U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance's FY2024 table lists jurisdictions eligible under the local JAG formula. These figures are direct formula allocations, not verified awards, disbursements or equipment purchases. Some jurisdictions also belong to disparate groups with separate joint allocations; the individual amounts in a group's MOU may differ.
| Eligible Jurisdiction | Program | Basis | Amount | Fiscal Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $258,179 | FY 2024 |
| West Memphis City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $42,387 | FY 2024 |
| Fayetteville City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $35,215 | FY 2024 |
| Fort Smith City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $66,443 | FY 2024 |
| North Little Rock City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $49,426 | FY 2024 |
| Pine Bluff City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $49,070 | FY 2024 |
| Jonesboro City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $39,180 | FY 2024 |
| Faulkner County | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $10,045 | FY 2024 |
| Rogers City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $19,223 | FY 2024 |
| Paragould City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $24,323 | FY 2024 |
| Jacksonville City | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $22,942 | FY 2024 |
| Garland County | BJA FY2024 Local JAG | Direct formula allocation | $22,653 | FY 2024 |
Source: BJA FY2024 Arkansas Local JAG Allocations. For a current application, use the current fiscal-year allocation list and solicitation rather than these historical figures.
Official & Primary Sources
Arkansas Drone and Federal Procurement Resources
Use primary sources to verify current requirements before issuing a solicitation, applying grant funds, replacing a legacy fleet, operating UAS, or relying on a vendor compliance claim.
Arkansas UAS Procurement FAQ
Common Questions From Arkansas Public-Safety Buyers
These answers are intended for procurement planning and should be checked against current Arkansas law, the funding notice, contract language, agency policy, and official source documents for the specific project.
Does Arkansas currently restrict Chinese- or Russian-linked government drones?
Yes. Act 525 prohibits Arkansas public entities from purchasing small UAS manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. The statutory definition includes specified entities domiciled in China or Russia, entities under the influence or control of those governments, certain subsidiaries and affiliates, and entities appearing on specified federal screening lists.
Can an Arkansas agency continue operating an affected legacy drone?
Act 525 establishes May 1, 2027 as the date on or after which a public entity may not operate a small UAS manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. Agencies with affected fleets should plan replacement, budgeting, training, and migration before that date.
Does Act 525 contain a waiver?
Act 525 allows the Secretary of the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to waive specified restrictions involving the use of state funds based on necessity involving exigent circumstances, counter-UAS, or criminal investigative purposes, with notification to the General Assembly. The enacted language identifies the state-funding provisions in subdivisions (b)(2) and (c)(2), so agencies should not assume the waiver overrides the separate public-entity prohibitions in subdivisions (b)(1) and (c)(1).
Does a state waiver override federal drone restrictions?
No. Arkansas and federal requirements operate independently. Federal funds can trigger American Security Drone Act restrictions and award-specific conditions regardless of a state-level funding determination.
Are “NDAA-compliant” drones required for every Arkansas public-safety purchase?
Agencies should avoid treating “NDAA compliant” as a universal legal standard. Arkansas Act 525 has its own statutory definitions, while federal funds, federal contracts, and specific awards may impose additional restrictions. The applicable rules depend on the transaction.
Does Blue UAS automatically satisfy every Arkansas procurement requirement?
No. Blue UAS can simplify cybersecurity and supply-chain diligence for many government buyers, but agencies should still verify the exact manufacturer, assembler, system configuration, funding source, solicitation requirements, Act 525 applicability, and intended mission.
MAXSUR Solution Pathways
Connect Arkansas Funding to Field-Ready Capability
MAXSUR supports public-safety agencies with mission-focused technology, integration, training, compliance documentation, and procurement pathways. These solution areas may align with selected grant programs when tied to eligible missions, approved costs, and the procurement requirements attached to the funding source.
Procurement Pathway
Use Grant Funding More Efficiently With Cooperative Procurement
Finding a grant is only part of the process. Once funding is identified or awarded, Arkansas agencies still need a compliant and efficient path to purchase, deploy, train on, and support the equipment or services tied to the project.
MAXSUR's BuyBoard contract may help eligible agencies streamline procurement, access contract pricing, and move faster from funding approval to field-ready capability for selected public-safety projects.
BuyBoard eligibility, grant allowability, Arkansas procurement requirements, Act 525 applicability, and federal technology restrictions may vary by agency, funding source, product, and jurisdiction. Agencies should confirm requirements with their procurement office, grant administrator, and legal counsel before purchase.