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Committee hears HB 317 to phase out government use of drones made by adversarial foreign entities
Summary
Sponsors told the committee HB 317 would require Ohio agencies and subdivisions to transition away from drones manufactured by covered foreign entities, providing a transition period through 05/01/2027 and urging procurement of trusted alternatives to protect infrastructure data.
At the first hearing on House Bill 317, sponsors described a security-focused measure intended to reduce government reliance on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) manufactured by foreign adversaries.
"These devices may seem like cost effective tools, but their supply chains, ownership structures, and mandatory compliance with foreign intelligence laws create dangerous risks for Ohio," a sponsor said, arguing that drones tied to adversarial governments could expose sensitive infrastructure data. The sponsor asked members to support a gradual transition "until 05/01/2027" to allow agencies time to replace covered equipment with secure alternatives.
Committee members asked whether the bill would affect private companies or manufacturers with foreign supply-chain components. The sponsor clarified the bill targets complete UAS aircraft manufactured overseas and imported as finished systems and does not regulate component parts or private sector supply chains such as those of Joby Aviation.
Lawmakers also asked how many state and local drones would be affected and about replacement costs; the sponsor said no specific statewide count was available and described the transition period as intended to provide an on-ramp while procurement options and budget adjustments are considered. The hearing concluded with no vote.
