Georgia to Ban Chinese Drones in Major Security Push

Georgia Lawmakers Push Drone Regulations, Targeting Chinese Manufacturers and Public Safety

Georgia lawmakers are advancing comprehensive drone regulations through multiple bills, with bipartisan support focusing on national security and public safety concerns, according to state legislative documents. The measures would restrict both drone operations and procurement sources for state agencies, reports The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

House Bill 205, which received unanimous committee approval, would require the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to create an approved drone list for state and local government purchases. These drones must meet Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Defense standards, with agencies given a three-year compliance window.

“There is no price tag on national security in our country,” said State Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, the bill’s primary author, citing concerns about Data Security risks from leading drone manufacturers DJI and Autel, which have ties to the Chinese government.

A companion measure, Senate Bill 64, specifically targets drones under 55 pounds manufactured or assembled in China or Russia.

State Sen. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, who chairs the Science and Technology Committee, emphasized the strategic importance: “As UAVs become more and more systemically important to our nation’s entire stream of commerce, we need to limit the ability of malevolent actors such as China and Russia from having an outsized influence on our economy and collecting rich aerial data on our citizens.”

The economic impact could be significant. Georgia Geospatial Association drone chair Brody Baer noted that American-made alternatives typically cost substantially more than Chinese-manufactured drones, which currently dominate the commercial market.

The timing coincides with drone delivery expansion plans in Atlanta. Wing, a drone delivery company partnered with Walmart and DoorDash, recently demonstrated its 11-pound delivery drones to state legislators. The company positions its service as an efficient alternative to traditional delivery methods.

Additional measures include House Bill 58, which would prohibit drone flights within 400 feet of large ticketed events, and House Bill 156, designating the Department of Transportation as the authority over “vertiports” – specialized drone takeoff and landing facilities.

The legislative push follows recent drone activity concerns in New Jersey, though the White House clarified last month that these flights were FAA-authorized and included legitimate commercial, research, and hobbyist operations.