Connecticut Public Safety Grants

What “Covered Foreign Entity” Means

Section 29-1kk reaches listed persons, the governments of China and Russia, persons domiciled there or under their control or influence, and affiliates or subsidiaries of covered persons. Screen the actual aircraft assembler and manufacturer against the statute rather than relying on a brand slogan or a single “NDAA compliant” claim.

From October 1, 2026 the purchase rule covers state agencies, municipalities, their contractors acting pursuant to contracts and state or federal funds used to purchase covered systems. The corresponding operating restrictions generally take effect October 1, 2028. Contracts entered before the statutory cutoffs receive specific treatment; do not assume a blanket grandfather clause.

Earlier DESPP Dates and Limited Waivers

DESPP may not purchase covered systems beginning October 1, 2025 and may not operate them beginning October 1, 2027. Section 29-1kk has specified preexisting-contract provisions and limited waiver processes. The later operational waiver period for state agencies, municipalities and specified fire or law-enforcement leadership runs through December 31, 2034 for exigency, counter-UAS or criminal investigation circumstances, with written reporting to DESPP within seven days. Check the exact statutory conditions and decision-maker.

Municipal Drone and Accessories Grant

Under § 29-1hh, DESPP administers a program within available resources for municipalities to purchase UAS, mission accessories or both, with grants of up to 33% of purchase cost. Eligible accessories can include night-vision, thermal and infrared cameras. A municipality cannot use this grant for an aircraft whose purchase is prohibited by state or federal law based on country of manufacture.

The statute requires DESPP to post standards, criteria, forms and deadlines. The law alone is not evidence of an open intake or available award; confirm the present notice directly with DESPP before budgeting reimbursement.

Critical Infrastructure and Mission Rules

Public Act 25-1 also restricts operating a drone below 250 feet above ground level over, or within 100 horizontal feet of, a defined critical-infrastructure facility (including inside a tunnel), and using a drone to surveil or collect information about a facility without prior owner or administrator approval. Statutory exceptions apply, including certain public-safety activities. Map the planned mission against the current law, obtain necessary permissions and follow FAA requirements.

Federal Rules: Different Tests for Different Purchases

ASDA / OMB M-26-02 Appendix D: Since December 22, 2025 federal award funds generally may not support procurement or operation of a FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to the guidance’s exceptions and waivers. NDAA Section 889 separately concerns covered telecommunications and video-surveillance equipment and services. FCC Covered List restrictions affect equipment authorization for covered items; consult current FCC guidance for existing authorizations and exceptions. TAA only applies where a covered federal procurement or contract term invokes the trade-agreement rules. Blue UAS can aid diligence but is not a substitute for each state, grant, FCC and contract test.

Practical Connecticut UAS Procurement Checklist

1. 1Identify the money and buyer. Distinguish municipal, state and federal dollars, pass-through awards and contractor purchases; read award conditions.
2. 2Check Connecticut’s covered-foreign-entity definition. Document the assembler and manufacturer, ownership or control, and relevant federal screening or Entity List status under § 29-1kk.
3. 3Plan around both state transition dates. For most public buyers, October 1, 2026 starts the purchase restriction and October 1, 2028 starts the operating restriction; DESPP has earlier dates.
4. 4Apply the federal UAS grant test. For federal funds, review the ASDA restriction in OMB M-26-02 Appendix D, the award terms and any applicable exemption or waiver.
5. 5Review surveillance and radio components separately. Check NDAA Section 889, the current FCC Covered List and equipment authorization; a Blue UAS listing is useful evidence, not universal approval.
6. 6Record the cyber architecture. Inventory firmware, payloads, radios, cloud endpoints, data storage, account access, update paths and incident response controls.
7. 7Verify mission and grant specifics. Check FAA approvals, critical-infrastructure restrictions, program allowability and any grant administrator approvals before operation or purchase.
8. 8Keep the decision record. Retain vendor representations, origin evidence, system bill of materials, award terms, approvals and any Connecticut or federal waiver documentation.