Kansas committee hears bill to bar state purchases of drones or components tied to specified foreign countries

The Kansas House Commerce Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2,293, which would prohibit state agencies and political subdivisions from purchasing drones, critical components, related services or finished goods if those items were produced in or owned by entities tied to countries the bill lists as "countries of concern." Revisor Reimer told the committee the measure would take effect for contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2025.

The bill defines a "country of concern" to include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela and limits procurement of "critical components"—parts or software necessary for recording, storing or transmitting data. It also allows continued use of replacement parts acquired before July 1, 2025, but would bar acquiring new replacement components from a foreign principal after that date. The measure contains exceptions, including if a vendor has a prior Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) determination with no unresolved national security concerns or a national security agreement in effect; another exception allows an acquisition if the secretary of administration, after consulting the adjutant general, determines that failure to acquire the component would pose a greater threat to state security.

Advocates said the bill addresses…