Florida Public Safety Grants

Florida Approval Is a Tier and System Assessment

Rule 60GG-2.0075 says a manufacturer meeting the applicable minimum requirements is deemed approved for that tier; the agency must still ensure its particular drone complies. Tier One does not collect, transmit or receive agency data in flight; Tier Two handles only flight-control data, excluding visual and auditory data; Tier Three may handle visual, auditory or other agency data. A public-safety camera drone will generally require the Tier Three analysis.

Subsection (4) restricts drones, related services and equipment from makers domiciled in or reasonably believed owned or controlled, in whole or part, by a foreign country of concern. Tiers Two and Three also restrict makers of critical components, including flight controllers, radios, cameras, gimbals, ground control, software, network connectivity and storage. Evaluate the actual configuration and vendor relationships.

Network, Encryption and Storage Controls

Under the rule’s standard precautions, drone internet connection is limited to mission-related command, coordination or ground-control communications, with monitored/secured or isolated ground systems. Connections to government computers and networks require the prescribed isolation, removable-media and malware-scan steps; agency network-connected phones and tablets cannot be used as drone controllers, while dedicated non-networked devices may be used as specified.

Tier Two and Tier Three require all communications to and from the drone to use a FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption algorithm. Tier Three restricts data storage to the continental United States; remote access to non-open data from outside that area requires written approval by the agency head or designee. The rule has a narrow research and accountability exception with advance notice, not a general public-safety waiver.

Florida Flight and Privacy Rules

Section 934.50(3)–(4) limits law-enforcement use to gather evidence or information, and restricts surveillance of private property in violation of a reasonable expectation of privacy. Its exceptions include a judicial warrant, urgent circumstances, crowd safety subject to written authorization and policies, traffic management without drone-based citations, and crime or crash scene evidence collection. Disaster damage assessment during a declared emergency and certified fire personnel work have stated exceptions. Match the mission to the exact provision; also follow FAA requirements and agency policies.

Florida Drone Funding: Replacement and First Responder

The FY 2025–26 Drone Replacement Program accepted eligible applications July 15–October 14, 2025, and FDLE reported all available funds claimed on October 15. That round had a $25,000 per-compliant-drone cap and an award period ending June 30, 2026; it is not shown as a rolling open grant.

Florida’s 2026 § 934.50(7)(g) creates a Drone as First Responder Grant Program, subject to appropriation, for compliant new drones. It sets at least a 50% local match, waivable for agencies solely serving a fiscally constrained county; $250,000 per agency; and $50,000 per drone. FDLE’s state grant page currently says “Coming Soon.” Confirm its eventual notice before applying or assuming an award.

Federal Restrictions and Florida Grant Planning

For federal awards, the American Security Drone Act / FASC prohibition in OMB M-26-02 Appendix D generally bars use of award funds to procure or in connection with operating prohibited UAS, subject to exceptions and waivers. NDAA Section 889 concerns specified telecom and video surveillance equipment/services; FCC Covered List rules govern equipment authorization; TAA applies to covered federal acquisitions when invoked. MAXSUR’s federal guide explains the separate checks. A Blue UAS listing does not alone establish Florida tier compliance or eligibility under every grant.

For JAG, homeland security or cybersecurity proposals, seek administrator approval for the specific system and cost. A connected drone is not automatically an allowable cybersecurity project; document the risk-reduction objective and each notice’s conditions.

Practical Florida UAS Procurement Checklist

1. 1Identify the buyer and money. Determine whether a Florida governmental agency is acquiring or using the UAS, and separate state, local, federal award and federal contract requirements.
2. 2Classify the mission tier. Determine whether the aircraft handles no agency data in flight (Tier One), flight-control data only (Tier Two), or visual, audio or other data (Tier Three).
3. 3Verify origin and critical components. Document manufacturer domicile and ownership/control for the aircraft and related services; for Tier Two or Three, assess critical components under Rule 60GG-2.0075.
4. 4Map connections and data. Check permitted internet uses, secured or isolated ground control, agency network separation, mobile devices, malware scans and, where required, FIPS 140-2 compliant communications.
5. 5Plan video storage. For Tier Three, document continental-U.S. storage and the rule’s limited written approval path for remote access from outside that area.
6. 6Validate mission and funding. Confirm the applicable § 934.50(4) flight exception, FAA authorization, the grant’s UAS terms and ASDA/FASC restrictions where federal funds apply.
7. 7Keep the approval record. Preserve vendor attestations, component lists, architecture, grant correspondence, statutory exception, agency authorization, procurement review and retention policy.