New Hampshire HB 1444: relative to the purchase or acquisition of certain unmanned aircraft systems.

Bill Text

HB 1444-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

19Feb2026... 0558h

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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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill prohibits the state or local governments from acquiring certain drones or unmanned aircraft systems 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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2026... 0558h 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 the same as "aircraft" as defined in RSA 422:3, VI. 

 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:3. 

 II. To the extent practicable, state agencies shall purchase or acquire only those drones and unmanned aircraft systems cleared pursuant to RSA 162-V:3 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 that does not meet the requirements of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024, Public Law 118-31, or that has been included on the "covered list" of devices deemed by the Federal Communications Commission to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security to the United States or to the security and safety of United States residents. 

 II. 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. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 LBA

 26-2749

 03/23/2026

HB 1444-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0558h)

AN ACT relative to the purchase or acquisition of certain unmanned aircraft systems.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

$0

Indeterminable

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund, Fish and Game Fund, and Highway 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

$0

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

$0

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill defines an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) consistent with the statutory definition of “aircraft” and restricts the purchase or acquisition of certain drones by state and local government entities. Beginning January 1, 2028, state agencies may only acquire drones that meet specified clearance requirements, and state funds may not be used to obtain prohibited systems. Similarly, counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions are prohibited from acquiring drones that do not comply with federal security standards under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 or that appear on the Federal Communications Commission’s covered list, with any noncompliant purchase agreements deemed unenforceable.

Department of Safety

The Department states