State Public Safety Grant Guide
Vermont Public Safety Grants & Drone Compliance
Find Vermont funding pathways and understand how state cybersecurity standards, drone-use law and federal award restrictions affect public safety technology purchases.
Vermont public safety agencies can pursue criminal justice, homeland security, border security, emergency management and highway safety funding. Every proposed camera, drone, radio or software purchase must fit the particular program, approved budget and award conditions.
Vermont has a specific executive branch cybersecurity standard for certain named surveillance and telecommunications manufacturers. Its drone law also limits law enforcement deployments and requires annual reporting. Federal funds add a separate UAS procurement and operating test.
Planning distinction: We did not identify a Vermont statute that imposes a blanket foreign-drone manufacturer ban on all state and municipal purchases. That does not make every aircraft eligible: the ADS standard applies to executive branch state systems and covered vendor systems, Vermont law regulates drone use, and federal award terms can bar spending on a prohibited aircraft.
Vermont procurement & operations
Country of Origin, Cybersecurity and UAS Rules
Check the agency, equipment, data connection, mission and funding source together. “NDAA compliant” and “Blue UAS” are different claims with different legal uses.
| Requirement | What it means in Vermont | Buyer action |
|---|---|---|
| ADS Cybersecurity Standard Update 2023-01 | The 2023 standard supersedes the 2019 and 2022 updates and is directed to executive branch state agencies. It prohibits acquisition or renewal of a contract or grant, or new-purpose use, of equipment made by Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision or Dahua when supporting State of Vermont information systems or a vendor system. It covers public safety and video surveillance uses and also addresses other federally identified covered telecommunications or video surveillance equipment. | State agencies should screen manufacturer, OEM, connected cameras, networking, services and vendor systems with ADS before procurement. The standard includes a case-by-case exception process; a municipal department should check its own policies and any state-system, contract or grant connection instead of assuming the ADS directive directly governs every local purchase. |
| 20 V.S.A. § 4622: law enforcement drone use | Investigation, detection or prosecution using a drone generally requires a warrant or recognized warrant exception. Other uses, including search and rescue, accident scenes, fires, floods and storm damage, are expressly addressed. The law restricts collection beyond the target and biometric matching on nontarget data. | Put mission, legal basis, privacy controls, target minimization, storage and access rules into the agency's operating policy. Exigent use under a warrant exception has a statutory 48-hour warrant step and consequences if the court denies it. |
| 20 V.S.A. § 4624: annual drone report | A law enforcement agency that used a drone in the preceding 12 months must report deployments, incidents, data, rationale, investigations or arrests, incidental collection, program cost and funding source to DPS by September 1. | Set up flight and funding logs before deployment. Section 4623 separately requires applicable FAA compliance. |
| American Security Drone Act / OMB M-26-02 | Beginning December 22, 2025, federal award funds generally may not be used to procure a FASC-prohibited UAS or in connection with its operation. The federal policy provides specific exemptions and case-by-case waivers; it is not a blanket ban on all foreign-made drones purchased with local dollars. | Review the current prohibited status, federal award terms and whether an authorized exception or waiver applies. Track federal expenditures connected to operation, including relevant support costs; keeping the original purchase on a local account does not by itself resolve federal award restrictions. |
| BJA UAS / Blue UAS policy | BJA-funded UAS purchases require express prior approval and certification tied to DCMA's Blue UAS Cleared List. BJA's current certification also restricts modifications, added accessories and use to process, store or transmit federal information, and requires privacy, civil liberties and cybersecurity assurances. | Submit the certification and request before spending. Verify the exact aircraft and configuration, the Commerce Consolidated Screening List, and any conditions imposed by Vermont's pass-through grant manager. |
| FCC Covered List | The December 2025 addition of foreign-produced UAS and critical components affects new FCC equipment authorizations. The FCC says the action does not prohibit import, sale or use of existing previously authorized device models. | Check current FCC authorization for the model, radios and critical components; do not use FCC authorization as proof of grant eligibility. |
| TAA / Section 889 | TAA country-of-origin rules apply to covered federal acquisitions, not automatically to Vermont state or municipal grant purchases. Section 889 separately regulates specified telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services in federal contracting. | Review the actual contract or award clauses. Verify camera, radio, network and cloud supply chain separately from the drone airframe. |
Procurement record: Keep manufacturer and assembly details, model and FCC IDs, component list, software and cloud data flows, ADS review where applicable, grant manager approval, Blue UAS documentation, FAA authority, privacy policy and flight/reporting logs. A state IT exception is not a federal grant waiver.
Funding pathways
Vermont Grant Opportunities
Statuses reviewed September 28, 2026. Follow the linked program page for current solicitations, allowable costs, match and application instructions.
| Program / source | Potential fit | Status | Technology check |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 BJA Local JAG | Nine Vermont jurisdictions on the FY2026 BJA list may apply directly for approved criminal justice projects. | Open. Grants.gov deadline Oct 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET; JustGrants Oct 16, 2026, 8:59 p.m. ET. | UAS requires BJA express prior approval and certification; other technology must fit approved costs. |
| FY2026 Vermont state JAG formula | State-administered criminal justice projects and eligible local pass-through activities. | $507,079 state formula allocation, including required pass-through amounts; ask Vermont DPS about local subaward opportunities. | Federal pass-through and BJA UAS rules apply to an eligible subaward. |
| Vermont State Homeland Security Program | Terrorism preparedness, planning, training, exercises and eligible equipment with an approved capability nexus. | The posted FFY2023 reallocation rounds are closed; monitor HSU for new RFPs. | Use FEMA Authorized Equipment List and current HSU instructions. The posted materials include an sUAS signature page. |
| Operation Stonegarden | Eligible border-security cooperation with CBP / Border Patrol, including approved operations and equipment. | Posted FY2025 application period closed; HSU says no current opportunity. | An approved border mission and federal UAS spending rules control equipment proposals. |
| Nonprofit Security Grant Program | At-risk nonprofit organizations' eligible physical security projects; not a general municipal police equipment grant. | Posted FY2026 application period closed; monitor HSU. | Camera, access-control and communications purchases require equipment and award review. |
| Vermont State Highway Safety Office | Data-driven law enforcement traffic safety and other eligible highway safety projects. | FFY2027 application deadline was May 27, 2026, 2 p.m.; monitor next SHSO notice. | Do not assume drones or general surveillance qualify; justify a specific traffic safety purpose. |
| Special Investigative Units grants | Qualifying regional SIUs' program and law enforcement support, including equipment under grant guidance. | FY2027 guidance and forms are posted; consult SIU grants administrator for availability. | Restricted to SIU purposes and approved budgets, not general agency procurement. |
| Vermont Emergency Management | Emergency management and disaster preparedness programs when the particular notice authorizes the activity. | Check VEM's current funding pages for eligible applicants and open cycles. | Tie UAS or communications to approved disaster capability and applicable federal restrictions. |
Vermont HSU's grant FAQ requires requested equipment to be allowable under the notice and the applicable FEMA Authorized Equipment List. Contact the grant administrator before treating a drone or surveillance package as eligible.
FY2026 planning figures
Vermont Direct Local JAG Allocations
BJA publishes these as formula allocations for eligible direct applicants; they are not awarded grants or approved equipment budgets.
| Jurisdiction | FY2026 allocation | Jurisdiction | FY2026 allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington City | $55,052 | Bennington Town | $20,924 |
| Rutland City | $20,366 | Brattleboro Town | $19,157 |
| South Burlington City | $15,530 | St. Albans City | $14,879 |
| Barre City | $12,368 | Colchester Town | $10,136 |
| Winooski City | $10,043 | Vermont local total | $178,455 |
Source: BJA FY2026 Vermont Local JAG Allocations. The separate state formula allocation is $507,079, including $100,187 required variable pass-through and $123,589 for less-than-$10,000 jurisdictions; these are state-program figures, not additional direct local allocations.
MAXSUR solution pathways
Connect Vermont Funding to an Eligible Mission
Define the need, allowable costs and security controls before selecting the equipment or purchasing method.
Procurement pathway
Scope the Project Before Spending the Award
MAXSUR can help identify a technology configuration and discuss a cooperative purchasing route. The agency and grant administrator must confirm legal authority, allowable costs, security requirements and procurement compliance for the specific project.
Reviewed September 28, 2026. Program status and rules can change; verify the official notice and current policy before obligating funds.