State Public Safety Grant Guide
Washington Public Safety Grants & Drone Compliance
Current funding pathways and the state, federal, transportation and cybersecurity rules that affect drones and surveillance equipment in Washington.
Washington agencies can pursue direct federal JAG, Commerce-administered justice funding, homeland security and emergency-management grants, cybersecurity programs, fire-service assistance and targeted traffic-safety grants. Equipment must fit the specific award, approved budget and mission.
Washington's proposed foreign-drone procurement ban, SB 5302, did not become law in the 2025–26 biennium. Federal award restrictions, WSDOT's federally funded project guidance, agency cybersecurity policies and FAA rules still matter. Read MAXSUR's NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS guide alongside the Washington-specific details here.
Status on September 28, 2026: The direct FY2026 BJA Local JAG solicitation and WTSC school-zone grant cycle are open. Washington EMD says its 2026 counter-UAS project solicitation is closed. DNR lists its 2026 Volunteer Fire Assistance Phase 3 round as scheduled to open October 1. Verify every deadline and proposed expense with the administering agency.
Washington procurement & operations
Country of Origin, Cybersecurity and Federal Funding
Start with the funding source and actual mission. A local purchase, a BJA-funded aircraft and a drone used on an FHWA-funded transportation project face different approval and documentation requirements.
SB 5302 Not Enacted
Its proposed foreign-entity purchasing and operating restrictions must not be stated as current Washington law.
ASDA Applies to Funds
Federal award money generally cannot procure or support operation of a FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to the applicable exemptions and waivers.
WSDOT Project Bulletin
Federally funded local transportation work has an explicit covered-UAS restriction, including contractor use on the project.
BJA Prior Approval
BJA-funded UAS purchases need express approval and its current Blue UAS certification and cybersecurity assurances.
SB 5302 Was a Proposal, Not a Ban
SB 5302 (2025–26) proposed restrictions on public entities' purchase and later operation of small UAS manufactured or assembled by covered foreign entities. The official bill history shows introduction and retention in committee status, without enactment. Do not treat its proposed July 1, 2026 operating date as effective law.
A locally funded agency purchase therefore requires its own procurement, IT-security, privacy, contract and operational review; the absence of this particular statute is not a blanket finding that a named drone or surveillance system is eligible for every use or grant.
Federal Grants: ASDA and BJA Blue UAS Certification
OMB M-26-02, Appendix D implements the American Security Drone Act restriction on federal award funds from December 22, 2025: recipients generally cannot use those funds to procure or in connection with operating a FASC-prohibited UAS, unless an applicable exemption or waiver applies. Buying a drone with local dollars alone does not settle whether federal dollars may support its operation.
BJA's current UAS policy requires express prior approval for purchases under its awards and a certification tied to the DCMA Blue UAS Cleared List. It also addresses modifications/accessories, processing federal information, the Commerce Consolidated Screening List and privacy, civil-liberties and cybersecurity assurances. Check the exact grant terms before requesting an aircraft.
WSDOT's Specific FHWA-Funded Project Rule
WSDOT Local Programs Bulletin LPB-2026-02-R2 (March 10, 2026) tells local agencies they may not use FHWA funds to procure, operate, maintain or process data from covered UAS. It says covered UAS must not be used in a Title 23-funded project even when bought with other funds or billed separately. The bulletin covers consultants and contractors in planning, design, construction, maintenance and other federally funded project phases, with required contract language.
For this WSDOT context, the bulletin describes Blue UAS Cleared List equipment as compliant by default; an unlisted system may need manufacturer component certifications and a cybersecurity assessment. This WSDOT treatment is not a substitute for BJA's separate Blue UAS certification and approval requirements.
State Cybersecurity and Camera-Supply-Chain Review
WaTech's Washington State Cybersecurity Program Policy (SEC-01) directs state agencies to maintain cybersecurity programs, manage risk, protect data and align vendor contracts with state security policies. It is a cybersecurity program requirement, not a named foreign-drone manufacturer blacklist for every city and county.
For connected surveillance, evaluate the camera OEM, radios and modems, cloud connections, retention, access controls, software updates and vendor support. NDAA Section 889 separately addresses specified covered telecommunications and video-surveillance equipment or services in federal contracting. Apply the actual contract and award clauses rather than using “NDAA compliant” as a universal certificate.
Washington Registration: Government Exemption
RCW 47.68.250 generally requires annual state registration of aircraft, including commercial unpiloted aircraft systems. However, subsection (6)(a) exempts aircraft owned by and used exclusively in the service of a government or political subdivision when not carrying persons or property for commercial purposes. A government-operated public safety drone meeting that exemption is not required to register under this provision merely because its pilot uses FAA Part 107.
Contractor-owned or mixed-use aircraft may have a different state-registration result. Review the exact facts and continue to meet separate FAA registration, pilot, airspace and operating requirements. State registration is not a country-of-origin or security certification.
FCC, TAA and an Agency Procurement File
The FCC's December 2025 Covered List action affects new equipment authorizations for foreign-produced UAS and critical components; the FCC says it does not prohibit use, sale or import of previously authorized device models. Trade Agreements Act / FAR Subpart 25.4 concerns covered federal acquisitions and does not automatically govern every Washington municipal purchase.
Retain manufacturer and assembly documentation, component and FCC identifiers, cloud/data-flow assessment, approved grant budget, any BJA certification, WSDOT project contract provisions and FAA documents. Confirm the agency's privacy, records and cybersecurity policies before deployment.
Verified funding pathways
Washington Grant Opportunities
Status reviewed September 28, 2026. These programs serve different missions; listed amounts are formula allocations or program limits, not a promise of a technology award.
| Program | Potential fit | Status | Technology check |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 BJA Local JAG | Washington jurisdictions on BJA's direct allocation list; approved criminal justice projects. | Open. Grants.gov Oct. 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET; JustGrants Oct. 16, 2026, 8:59 p.m. ET. Statewide direct local allocations total $2,261,543. | UAS purchase requires BJA's express prior approval and certification; only approved costs qualify. |
| Washington Commerce State JAG / subawards | State-administered criminal justice priorities and eligible pass-through projects. | FY2026 Washington state formula allocation $4,289,174, including required pass-through components; not itself an open local solicitation. Monitor Commerce notices. | Verify the specific Commerce subaward, federal award terms and BJA UAS process. |
| FY2026 BJA STOP School Violence | Eligible school-safety prevention, training and technology projects under the solicitation. | Open. Grants.gov Oct. 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET; JustGrants Nov. 6, 2026, 8:59 p.m. ET. | Check the detailed NOFO. Do not presume general police surveillance or drones are allowable. |
| Washington EMD HSGP: SHSP, UASI, OPSG | Approved terrorism preparedness, urban-area or border-security capabilities. | State-managed cycles and local project windows vary; check EMD. | Tie any camera, communications or UAS request to the approved mission, equipment list and federal restrictions. |
| EMD Counter-UAS Grant Program | Authorized detection, identification, tracking or monitoring of unlawful UAS; distinct from buying an aircraft to fly. | FY2026 project solicitation closed, per Washington EMD. Monitor future rounds. | Mitigation or interdiction requires separate legal authority and approvals; check federal program conditions. |
| EMD EMPG / State and Local Cybersecurity | Emergency-management capabilities or systemic cybersecurity risk reduction, respectively. | Contact EMD for current subrecipient application periods and eligible activities. | SLCGP is a cyber program, not a general-purpose drone replacement fund. |
| DNR Volunteer Fire Assistance Phase 3 | Eligible fire districts/departments; listed equipment includes remote monitors and communications. | Scheduled to open Oct. 1, 2026. DNR indicates up to $5,000 with 50% match; confirm final notice. | Use only the specified wildland-fire items. Do not assume a drone is eligible. |
| DNR HB 1168 Operations Grant | Rural and volunteer fire capability, safety, communications and eligible operations equipment. | 2026 round closed Mar. 22, 2026; maximum $20,000, no match under the 2026 guidelines. | Follow item-level eligibility in the next DNR notice; no automatic UAS eligibility. |
| WTSC School-Zone Law Enforcement Equipment | Active school-zone speed enforcement by qualifying state, local or tribal law enforcement. | 2026–27 cycle open from Aug. 31, 2026; check WTSC/WEMS for the applicable deadline and approval. | Radar, rain gear and related approved enforcement equipment; purchase only after award notice. No presumed drone eligibility. |
| WSCJTC ESHB 2015 Public Safety Funding | Eligible local/tribal law enforcement hiring, retention, training and broader authorized safety efforts. | Round 2 closed Aug. 17, 2026; monitor CJTC for updates. | Ask CJTC whether a specific equipment project fits; this is not a drone-specific grant. |
For federal programs, include the federal spending and cybersecurity review at the proposal stage. For a state-funded program, inspect the actual contract, agency policies and any federal pass-through component instead of applying one label to the whole project.
FY2026 formula planning
Washington Direct Local JAG Allocations
Examples from BJA's official list. Shaded groupings in the source are joint allocations: a fiscal agent submits one application and the jurisdictions document their distribution. These are allocations, not awards or equipment approvals.
| Jurisdiction / group | Amount | Jurisdiction / group | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County disparate group | $918,688 joint | Pierce County disparate group | $416,189 joint |
| Spokane County disparate group | $173,598 joint | Clark County disparate group | $153,409 joint |
| Kitsap County | $51,799 direct | Snohomish County | $45,206 direct |
| Washington local total | $2,261,543 | Separate state formula | $4,289,174 |
Sources: FY2026 Washington local allocations and state allocations. The state amount includes $2,226,240 required variable pass-through and $418,208 for less-than-$10,000 jurisdictions; it is a separate formula allocation, not an additional award to any city shown here.
MAXSUR solution pathways
Build Around an Approved Washington Mission
Connect the equipment specification to the operational need, allowable funding and documented security controls.
Procurement pathway
Confirm the Funding, Then Specify the System
MAXSUR can help scope a technology configuration and procurement path. The applicant and grant administrator should confirm allowable costs, purchasing rules, FAA use, cybersecurity requirements and any federal award approval before ordering.
Reviewed September 28, 2026. Deadlines and policies can change; check the linked official sources before committing funds.