H-0809.1

HOUSE BILL 1611

ByRepresentatives Street, Gregerson, and Reed

AN ACT Relating to prohibiting the purchase of small unmanned aircrafts manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity; adding a new section to chapter 43.17 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) No state or local agency, including any law enforcement agency, shall purchase or otherwise acquire a small unmanned aircraft system that is manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

(2) No state or local agency funds may be used in connection with small unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity, including without limitation state or local agency funds:

(a) Awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement; or

(b) Otherwise made available.

(3) On or after July 1, 2026, a public entity shall not operate a small unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

(4) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Agency" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 42.56.010.

(b) "Covered foreign entity" means an individual, person, foreign government, or a party that is:

(i) On the consolidated screening list or the entity list, supplement No. 4 to 15 C.F.R. Part 744, as each are published by the United States department of commerce on the effective date of this section;

(ii) Domiciled in the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation;

(iii) Under the influence or control by the government of the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation; or

(iv) A subsidiary or affiliate of an individual, government, or party referred to in (b)(i) through (iii) of this subsection.

(c) "Small unmanned aircraft system" means an aircraft that:

(i) Is an unmanned, powered aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft;

(ii) May be expendable or recoverable; and

(iii) Weighs less than 55 pounds including the weight of anything attached to or carried by the aircraft.

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