State Public Safety Grant Guide
Nevada Public Safety Grants
Verified Nevada grant pathways and practical drone, surveillance and cybersecurity procurement guidance for public agencies.
Nevada agencies can seek direct federal justice awards and state-administered justice, preparedness, highway safety and cybersecurity subawards when the mission and published notice fit. For a proposed UAS or surveillance purchase, define the buyer, funding source, aircraft and software components, data handling and authorized uses first.
Nevada’s UAS restrictions apply to state and local public agencies and law-enforcement agencies. A 2025 amendment created a conditional route for some purchases from listed entities. It requires a documented U.S. data-storage and access determination and federal compliance. For the separate federal rules, see MAXSUR’s NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS guide.
Planning update: The previous page treated FY2024 JAG formula allocations as awarded projects and used estimated opening dates. This version uses administrator notices, labels closed rounds and omits unverified award examples.
Nevada Procurement & Cybersecurity
Nevada Drone and Surveillance Purchasing Rules
Check the seller and the system, then match acquisition, operation and grant conditions to the agency.
1. State and local agency scope
NRS 493.020 defines public and law-enforcement agencies to include the state and political subdivisions. NRS 493.112(5) and 493.115(3) restrict purchase, acquisition and operation contrary to DPS regulations. The prohibition covers UAVs and related equipment or services. NRS 493.118(9) says to prioritize U.S.-manufactured products to the extent authorized by purchasing law; it does not exempt a city or county.
2. Listed entities and a conditional path
NRS 493.118(6) calls for an entity list and a separate aircraft/equipment/service list; NAC 493.110 adopts a specified January 31, 2024, Section 1260H list. Under the 2025 subsection 8 amendment, a public or law-enforcement agency may purchase or acquire from an entity on the subsection 6(a) list only if the statutory U.S. data-storage, no-third-party-access, pre-purchase agency determination and federal-law conditions are met. It is not a blanket waiver of subsection 6(b) or every applicable restriction.
3. Existing fleet and mission use
NRS 493.112(5), 493.115(3) and NAC 493.110(3) preserve operation or use of a UAV or related equipment acquired before the regulation became effective. Public agencies must register aircraft with DPS and follow authorized public-purpose rules; law enforcement generally needs a warrant to gather information where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, subject to statutory exceptions. Review grant terms separately for federally funded operations.
4. Critical facilities and airports
NRS 493.109 addresses operations within 500 horizontal feet or 250 vertical feet of a defined critical facility without written owner consent, and within five miles of a covered public airport unless the stated airport or FAA permission is obtained. Carry the required airport documentation and comply with applicable FAA rules.
5. Federal award and supply chain
OMB M-26-02 Appendix D implements American Security Drone Act restrictions on federal award funds for FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to its exemptions or waivers. BJA requires express prior approval for UAS purchases with its funds and additional certifications. Section 889, FCC equipment authorization, TAA and Blue UAS each have distinct scopes; verify applicable contract clauses and award conditions rather than treating a single label as approval.
6. Practical cybersecurity review
Request a bill of materials for the aircraft, sensors, controller, radios, firmware and cloud services. Document vendor and third-party access, where information is stored and maintained, encryption, multifactor authentication, update handling, logging, retention and response to vulnerabilities. Make the NRS 493.118(8) policy determination before any purchase relying on it.
Practical Nevada UAS Procurement Checklist
- Identify the purchasing agency. Document whether the buyer is Nevada law enforcement or another state or local public agency, and who will own and operate the aircraft.
- Screen both Nevada lists. Check the Department of Public Safety restrictions for the seller and the aircraft, payload, software, equipment and service under NRS 493.118 and NAC 493.110.
- Document any statutory purchase path. If considering NRS 493.118(8), determine before purchase whether the seller’s policies ensure exclusively U.S. storage and maintenance, no third-party access, and federal compliance; obtain agency procurement and legal review.
- Inventory existing aircraft. Record acquisition dates and assess the pre-regulation legacy-use provision separately from new purchases, grant conditions and operational permissions.
- Map the data and cyber controls. Assess controller, payload, firmware, links and cloud services; obtain evidence of storage location, vendor access, encryption, updates, accounts, retention and incident response.
- Match the grant and federal terms. Confirm program allowability and federal UAS restrictions, including the FASC-prohibited list and any waiver; obtain BJA express prior approval if BJA funds would buy UAS.
- Approve the mission and flight. Check public-agency registration, law-enforcement warrant rules, critical-facility and airport permissions, FAA authorization and local policy; retain the file.
Primary sources: NRS 493.109–.118 NAC 493.100–.110 AB439 (2025) OMB M-26-02 BJA UAS Conditions
Funding Pathways
Nevada Grant Opportunities
These are verified programs and notices, not automatic approvals for drones, cameras or networked surveillance. Check the linked administrator for eligibility and current terms.
| Grant / Program | Level | Administrator | Project Fit | Status / Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BJA FY2026 Local JAG Formula | Federal direct | BJA | Eligible jurisdictions in the federal allocation; justice equipment and technology require project fit and award approval | Open: Grants.gov Oct. 9 / JustGrants Oct. 16, 2026 |
| Nevada Byrne JAG State Subawards | Federal pass-through | Nevada OCJA | Justice improvement, information sharing, training and qualifying equipment under a state notice | FFY2025 subaward notice closed Aug. 15, 2025; next notice pending |
| State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) | Federal pass-through | Nevada OEM / FEMA | Risk-based terrorism preparedness and approved capability investments | Check OEM for state subaward instructions |
| Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) | Federal pass-through | Nevada OEM / FEMA | Preparedness investments in federally designated high-threat urban areas | Check regional and OEM project process |
| Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) | Federal pass-through | Nevada OEM / FEMA | Emergency management capacity, plans, exercises and core capabilities | Check OEM for next cycle |
| State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program | Federal pass-through | Nevada OEM / FEMA-CISA | Cyber risks to government-owned or operated information systems; coordinate with state plan | Check OEM for current subaward process |
| Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) | Federal pass-through | Nevada OEM / FEMA | Target hardening for eligible nonprofits at risk of terrorist attack | Check OEM for next cycle; nonprofit applicants |
| Nevada Highway Safety Grants | Federal pass-through | Nevada Office of Traffic Safety | Traffic-safety enforcement, records, outreach and other eligible highway-safety projects | Check OTS grant portal and current priorities |
| BJA FY2026 Body-Worn Camera Program | Federal direct | BJA | Law-enforcement body camera policy and implementation; distinct from drone funding | First-stage Grants.gov closed Sep. 25; JustGrants Oct. 2 only if first stage submitted |
| COPS FY2026 School Violence Prevention Program | Federal direct | COPS Office | Eligible school security equipment and coordination under the federal solicitation | FY2026 round closed; check next notice |
| COPS FY2026 Technology and Equipment Program | Federal direct | COPS Office | Congressionally designated technology/equipment projects only | Invitational FY2026 round closed; not a general competition |
| FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant | Federal direct | FEMA | Eligible fire and EMS equipment or training within the current program rules | Check next federal notice and allowability |
Time-sensitive: FY2026 direct Local JAG has a Grants.gov deadline of October 9 and a JustGrants deadline of October 16, both Eastern time. Only jurisdictions listed in the formula allocation are eligible. The FY2026 BJA body-camera first-stage deadline passed September 25; its October 2 second stage is available only to applicants who submitted the first stage.
Grant Planning
Match Nevada Funding to the Actual Mission
State the mission outcome, eligible costs, data protection and approvals in the budget narrative.
Justice technology
Direct Local JAG and Nevada OCJA JAG support qualifying criminal-justice work under their respective notices. Describe the operational gap, participating agencies, training, data sharing and privacy controls; ask the administrator whether a proposed UAS is allowable before including it.
Preparedness and response
SHSP and UASI investments must tie to risk and the approved homeland-security strategy; EMPG builds emergency-management capability. A fire, search-and-rescue or critical-infrastructure mission still needs a permitted category, project approval and the agency’s Nevada UAS review.
Government cybersecurity
SLCGP targets risks to information systems owned or operated for state, local or tribal government. Specify the cyber outcome, assessment and controls. Confirm with Nevada OEM before treating a drone or camera as an eligible cyber expense.
Highway safety and cameras
Nevada OTS program priorities and federal highway-safety terms govern traffic projects. BJA’s body-camera program focuses on policy and implementation, not a general aircraft purchase; its two-step FY2026 application timing matters.
Schools, nonprofits and fire
COPS SVPP, FEMA NSGP and FEMA AFG serve different applicants and purposes. COPS TEP is limited to invited congressionally designated projects. Use the current solicitation’s eligible-applicant and equipment rules before building a quote.
Budget sequence: scope the mission; identify applicant and award; obtain written allowability and UAS approval where required; document Nevada list/data review; then complete procurement and FAA/mission authorization. Nevada’s fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30; federal award periods vary.
Nevada UAS Procurement FAQ
Common Nevada Compliance Questions
Use the exact vendor, equipment, data flow, agency and award to answer each purchase question.
Does Nevada prohibit every Chinese-made drone?
Nevada regulates purchases and operation through the Department of Public Safety lists in NRS 493.118 and NAC 493.110. The 2025 statute provides a conditional purchase/acquisition path for an entity on the subsection 6(a) list when its data and federal-compliance requirements are met. Check the separate equipment/service list and current agency guidance; a country-of-origin label alone is not a complete determination.
Do Nevada counties and cities have a different general exemption?
No general local-government carveout appears in these UAS provisions. The defined public and law-enforcement agencies include state and local agencies. NRS 493.118(9) expresses a U.S.-manufactured purchasing priority to the extent allowed by state purchasing chapters, not a local exception to the restrictions.
Can an agency keep using a drone acquired before 2025?
NRS 493.112(5) and 493.115(3), and NAC 493.110(3), preserve operation or use of equipment acquired before the relevant regulation became effective. This is a legacy-use provision, not permission for a new purchase or an override of federal award and flight conditions.
What must an agency show under AB439?
NRS 493.118(8), effective July 1, 2025, requires information collected by the listed entity to be stored and maintained exclusively in the United States and inaccessible to third parties, an agency determination about its policies before purchase, and compliance with federal restrictions. Ask agency procurement and counsel to reconcile this statutory path with the current DPS lists and regulations.
What are the Nevada rules near a critical facility or airport?
NRS 493.109 generally bars a flight within 500 horizontal feet or 250 vertical feet of a critical facility without written owner consent. It also addresses flights within five miles of a covered public airport with airport consent or FAA authorization and requires carrying that documentation. Confirm all applicable FAA airspace rules.
Does Blue UAS status or TAA compliance automatically authorize a purchase?
No. Blue UAS, Trade Agreements Act, FCC authorization, Section 889 and NDAA/ASDA rules address different questions. Apply only the clauses relevant to the product, buyer and funding, and check Nevada’s lists and the specific grant terms. See the linked MAXSUR guide for the distinctions.
Can a grant pay for an aircraft or surveillance platform?
The grant notice and administrator control allowability. Federal awards restrict purchase and operation of FASC-prohibited UAS with federal funds, subject to stated exemptions and waivers. BJA UAS purchases additionally require express prior approval and certifications; general justice or preparedness eligibility is not automatic UAS approval.
Can SLCGP pay for a drone?
Nevada describes SLCGP as addressing cyber risks to governmental information systems. Frame a project around an eligible cyber outcome and seek written administrator approval before including aircraft or surveillance hardware.
MAXSUR Solution Pathways
Connect Nevada Funding to Field Capability
Match equipment and cybersecurity controls to the eligible mission and approved budget.
Procurement Pathway
Move From Grant Approval to a Documented Purchase
Confirm the Nevada entity and product lists, any NRS 493.118(8) documentation, federal award terms, mission permissions and written administrator approval before ordering.
Cooperative purchasing does not waive grant allowability or agency procurement rules. Confirm the purchase method and exact system with the administrator and procurement office.