New regulations intended to keep Connecticut citizens safe from the prying eyes of foreign drones are set to take effect on Oct. 1 under a new law passed by legislative Democrats during this year’s session.
Public Act 25-1, passed in special session in March, contains a variety of new drone regulations long-sought by Senator Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, and endorsed by national security experts.
The new law prohibits drones manufactured in China or Russia from being purchased by the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection after this October or being operated by the agency after Oct. 1, 2027.
The same prohibition takes effect on Oct. 1, 2026 for purchases and Oct.1, 2028 for all state agencies, municipalities, and persons who contract with them.
In comments last year, Duff noted that the legislation “will update Connecticut’s drone procurement and operation policy to be in line with the federal government. We will not send Connecticut taxpayer dollars to foreign governments to spy on our citizens and our infrastructure.”
In January, in one of the last directives issued under the Biden Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned of the dangers of American government agencies using certain foreign-made drones.
“Chinese-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), more commonly referred to as drones, continue to pose a significant risk to critical infrastructure and U.S. national security,” the report said. “While any UAS could have vulnerabilities that enable data theft or facilitate network compromises, the People’s Republic of China has enacted laws that provide the government with expanded legal grounds for accessing and controlling data held by firms in China. The use of Chinese-manufactured UAS requires careful consideration and potential mitigation to reduce risk to networks and sensitive information.”
The new law – effective on Oct. 1 – also prevents anyone from operating a drone less than 250 feet above a “critical infrastructure facility” in Connecticut, which is defined as:
- an electrical generating facility, electric substation or switchyard, or electric control system;
- a facility for storing, receiving, or processing petroleum products and other fuels;
- a chemical or rubber manufacturing or storage facility;
- a correctional facility;
- a telecommunications central office or wireless telecommunications infrastructure;
- a commercial port, harbor, rail yard, truck terminal, or other freight transportation facility;
- a gas manufacturing or distribution plant;
- a television or radio station transmission facility licensed by the Federal Communications Commission;
- any portion of an above-ground oil, gas, or chemical pipeline;
- a dam classified as a high or significant hazard by the energy and environmental protection commissioner;
- an air navigation facility;
- a military facility;
- a reservoir, water treatment plant, distribution system and pumping station or wastewater treatment plant, collection system and pump station;
- a facility used primarily by a defense contractor;
- a government office building; a hospital;
- a public safety building or facility; or
- a state- or locally-owned bridge.
Finally, the new law also prohibits anyone from equipping a drone with a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, firearm, ammunition, explosive, or incendiary device. Violations are punishable with up to a year in prison and a $2,000 fine.
