Idaho Public Safety Grants

HB 294 Became Idaho Code §67-2359

Since July 1, 2023, a state entity or political subdivision entering a contract to acquire or dispose of services, supplies, information technology or construction must include a written certification that the contracting company is not currently owned or operated by the government of China and will not become so during the contract. The statute defines public entity broadly and includes certain subsidiaries, parents and affiliates in “company.” See the statute and Idaho local procurement manual.

This is a government-ownership/operation and contract-certification test, not a blanket country-of-manufacture blacklist. A Chinese-made component does not, by itself, answer whether the contracting company meets §67-2359. Conversely, a reseller or cooperative contract does not remove the certification requirement. Have procurement review the actual contract party and representations.

Idaho Code §21-213: Targeted Surveillance and Exceptions

Section 21-213 restricts intentional drone surveillance, evidence gathering, information collection or recording of specifically targeted persons or private property without written consent; listed property includes homes and curtilage, farms, ranches, dairies, and commercial or industrial premises. It also addresses recording a person for public dissemination without written consent. The statute excludes UAS used in mapping or resource management from its definition.

The statute says it does not prohibit law enforcement, fire and other local or state government uses for traffic accident documentation, specified crowd/traffic management, disaster or fire damage assessment, training subject to limits, search and rescue, crime-scene investigation, temporary emergency response, and action following a warrant where required. This is not an unrestricted public-safety exemption: document the mission and legal basis. The statute provides a civil cause of action with the greater of $1,000 or actual and general damages, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs, for prohibited conduct. ISP’s UAS procedure calls for property-owner consent or a magistrate’s search warrant for evidentiary collection over private property and lists the statutory public-safety uses.

Federal Grant and Surveillance Supply Chain

OMB M-26-02 Appendix D implements the American Security Drone Act rule that federal award funds generally cannot be used to procure or in connection with operating a FASC-prohibited UAS from December 22, 2025, subject to stated federal exemptions and waivers. Review the actual award and all applicable instructions before a proposal or purchase.

Section 889 addresses specified covered telecom and video-surveillance equipment and services; FCC Covered List and equipment authorization are separate checks. TAA is relevant where a covered federal acquisition invokes it. Blue UAS vetting alone is not a complete grant, contract or data-security determination. See the federal guide.

Cybersecurity and Idaho Grant Fit

Idaho ITS/ITA publishes statewide technology and information security policies for state government. Buyers should inventory telemetry, imagery, storage, remote access, firmware and service providers and apply their agency’s data classification and security requirements; counties and cities should verify their own adopted standards.

IOEM’s SLCGP emphasizes local-government cybersecurity services, consent agreements and self-assessment/gap analysis rather than a general cash grant to buy drones or cameras. SHSP needs an approved homeland-security purpose; ITD traffic-safety funding requires a data-supported traffic problem. Match the equipment to the grant’s authorized project and seek written approval.

Direct Local JAG and Flight Authority

BJA’s FY 2026 Idaho local allocation sheet totals $562,663 and lists specific cities, counties and disparate groups. Direct applicants have a Grants.gov deadline of October 9 and a JustGrants deadline of October 16, 2026, both in Eastern time. A joint group submits one award through a fiscal agent and documents allocations in an MOU. The ISP pass-through route has its own future solicitation.

For the actual flight, review FAA airspace, mission approval, Idaho privacy rules and applicable property permissions. Idaho State Police’s published procedure also requires controlled-airspace permissions and evidence-flight records for ISP pilots.

Practical Idaho UAS Procurement Checklist

1. 1Identify the contract party and funds. Record the contracting company, affiliates, procurement vehicle, state or local funds, federal award and any partner requirements.
2. 2Get the Idaho certification. For a covered public contract, obtain the Idaho Code §67-2359 certification that the contracting company is not owned or operated by the government of China throughout the contract.
3. 3Screen the full UAS and surveillance system. Document aircraft, sensors, radio, controller, software, firmware, cloud, ownership and component certifications; analyze federal ASDA/FASC and Section 889 separately.
4. 4Write the mission plan. Identify targets, private property, intended imaging, consent or warrant basis, and any Idaho Code §21-213 public-safety exception.
5. 5Protect data and network access. Map evidence, telemetry and storage; assess encryption, roles, remote support, retention, updates and incident response against applicable agency and grant standards.
6. 6Check funding and airspace approvals. Request written grantor equipment approval; obtain FAA and property permissions and use the applicable agency flight policy.
7. 7Preserve the file. Keep vendor attestations, contract clause, award terms, system-security review, consent or warrant record and flight approvals.