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2025 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1600 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Krizek
Unmanned Aircraft Trade and Replacement Program

Item 394 #3h

Item 394 #3h

First Year - FY2025 Second Year - FY2026
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Department of Criminal Justice Services FY2025 $7,500,000 FY2026 $0 GF

Language
Page 505, line 25, strike "$235,665,783" and insert "$243,165,783".

Page 513, after line 47, insert:

"AA.1. Included in the appropriation for this item is $7,500,000 the first year from the general fund is provided for the Department to administer and provide grant for the Unmanned Aircraft Trade and Replace Program.

2. The Department shall provide grants to state and local law enforcement agencies, local fire and ambulance service providers, or other local first responders upon application for the replacement of unmanned aircraft manufactured by an entity, including its subsidiaries, affiliates, or partners, that is domiciled in a country defined as a foreign adversary pursuant to § 55.1-507, Code of Virginia.

3. To be eligible for grants from the Program, applicants must relinquish a drone that is operable and in working order, but is manufactured by an entity, including its subsidiaries, affiliates, or partners, that is domiciled in a country defined as a foreign adversary of the United States.

4. Grants shall be awarded for each drone relinquished up to the replacement cost of the drone, not to exceed $25,000 per grant. Grant funds may only be used by recipients to purchase an equal or greater number of drones that are in compliance with §§ 1821-1832 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024. Funds may only be used for unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by a company that is domiciled in the United States and is not a subsidiary, affiliate, partner, in a joint venture with, or has a technology sharing or licensing agreement with an entity domiciled in a country defined as a foreign adversary.

5. Any funding provided in the subsection remaining at the end of the first year shall be carried forward to the second year."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $7.5 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2025 to establish the Unmanned Aircraft Trade and Replace Program, intended to provide grants of up to $25,000 to replace drones operated by state and local law enforcement and local first responder agencies that are manufactured by entities domiciled in a country defined as a foreign adversary of the United States.)