HB 1444-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2749
09/08
HOUSE BILL 1444-FN
AN ACT relative to the purchase or acquisition of certain unmanned aircraft systems.
SPONSORS: Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Cambrils, Merr. 4; Rep. Freeman, Belk. 8; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Mandelbaum, Rock. 21; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the creation of a list of unmanned aircraft systems that are deemed not to be a potential threat to the state and prohibits the state or local governments from acquiring systems not on the list after January 1, 2028.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2749
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the purchase or acquisition of certain unmanned aircraft systems.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Chapter; Prohibition on Purchase or Acquisition of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 162-U the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 162-V
PROHIBITION ON PURCHASE OR ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
162-V:1 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, “unmanned aircraft system” or “drone” means a powered, aerial vehicle that:
I. Does not carry a human operator and is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft;
II. Uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift;
III. Can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely; and
IV. Can be expendable or recoverable.
162-V:2 Prohibition on Purchase or Acquisition of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems by the State.
I. Effective January 1, 2028, no state agency shall purchase or acquire a drone or unmanned aircraft system other than those cleared pursuant to RSA 162-V:4.
II. To the extent practicable, state agencies shall purchase or acquire only those drones and unmanned aircraft systems cleared pursuant to RSA 162-V:4 prior to January 1, 2028.
III. Effective January 1, 2028, no state funds shall be used to purchase or acquire a drone or unmanned aircraft system whose purchase would be prohibited by paragraph I.
IV. A contract or agreement for the purchase or acquisition of a drone or unmanned aircraft system in violation of this section is void and unenforceable.
162-V:3 Prohibition on Purchase or Acquisition of Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems by Localities.
I. Effective January 1, 2028, no county, city, town or other political subdivision shall purchase or acquire a drone or unmanned aircraft system other than those cleared pursuant to RSA 162-V:4.
II. To the extent practicable, any county, city, town or other political subdivision shall purchase or acquire only those drones and unmanned aircraft systems cleared pursuant to RSA 162-V:4, prior to January 1, 2028.
III. A contract or agreement for the purchase or acquisition of a drone or unmanned aircraft system in violation of this section is void and unenforceable.
162-V:4 Creation and Maintenance of Cleared Drones List.
I. On or before January 1, 2028, the department of safety, in consultation with the department of administrative services, shall create and shall regularly maintain a cleared list of drones and unmanned aircraft systems that are:
(a) Cleared by the Department of Defense through its “Blue UAS” Program;
(b) Determined to be compliant with the requirements of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024, Public Law 118-31;
(c) Determined by the department of safety to be designed, maintained, modified, or operated in a manner that they are incapable under normal operating conditions of transmitting data to unauthorized persons or entities; or
(d) Otherwise determined by the department of safety to present no threat to the security of the state.
II. This list shall be updated at least every 6 months, and those devices and vendors on the cleared list shall be preferred over others in state and local procurement actions.
III. In creating and maintaining its cleared list, the department of safety shall consult with recognized cybersecurity experts from the private and public sector to ensure the integrity and security of all data collected by unmanned aircraft systems used in this state.
IV. The cleared list of preferred drones shall be a public document; however, all documents or processes related to its assessment and decision-making process shall be exempt from public disclosure pursuant to RSA 91-A.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2749
11/24/25
HB 1444-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the purchase or acquisition of certain unmanned aircraft systems.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $500,000 to $1,000,000 Increase Per Year | ||||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
| ||||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the creation of a list of drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) permitted for use by the state or political subdivisions. The Department of Safety will be responsible for creating and maintaining the list and states that due to the technical and security-sensitive nature of this work, significant personnel time and inter-agency coordination will be required, including collaboration with cybersecurity experts, vendor vetting, and regular updates to the list expected at least every six months. While the Department states no new full-time positions are necessary at this time, the workload will likely require reallocation of existing staff resources or contracted support, both of which carry substantial cost implications. In addition to administrative costs, the Division of State Police (NHSP) will likely incur substantial expenses to replace existing drones that do not meet the new compliance requirements. Most drones on the Blue UAS list are significantly more expensive than commercially available alternatives. Assuming NHSP UAS assets need to be replaced, this will result in training on the new platforms and the need for supplies and software for the new platforms. While some federal grants may be available to offset these costs—such as through the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVER program, the Byrne-JAG program (as amended by the DRONE Act of 2025), or the Counter-UAS Grant Program, these funding sources are competitive and not guaranteed. The Department states that while the exact fiscal impact is difficult to determine without a comprehensive inventory of current drone assets, costs to the Department will likely be between $500,000 and $1,000,000 per year.
This bill may also have an impact on local and county governments. Any impact is indeterminable and would vary by county or municipality.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 15, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 15, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 4, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 4, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
Jan. 29, 2026: Executive Session: 02/04/2026 01:00 pm GP 229
Jan. 29, 2026: Executive Session: 02/04/2026 01:00 pm GP 229
Jan. 29, 2026: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/04/2026 10:15 am GP 229
Jan. 15, 2026: Subcommittee Work Session: 01/22/2026 01:15 pm GP 229
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/15/2026 10:00 am GP 229
Jan. 2, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/15/2026 10:00 am GP 229
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs