Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force.

Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Calderon
Last action: 2026-05-22
Official status: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included some speculative elements that were not supported by the official source material.

Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force

AB-2043 requires the Office of Emergency Services to establish a task force by January 1, 2027, to develop strategies for protecting mass gatherings and critical infrastructure from drone attacks.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Office of Emergency Services to establish the Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force within its office by January 1, 2027.
The task force must include representatives from public and private entities such as the State Threat Assessment Center.
The task force will develop or update response plans specific to unmanned aircraft systems that integrate detection systems into existing emergency operation plans.

Who It Names or Affects

The Office of Emergency Services
Public and private organizations involved in the task force

Terms To Know

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Drones or other flying machines that do not have a human pilot on board.
Critical Infrastructure: Important systems and facilities like power plants, water treatment centers, and transportation networks that are vital to the functioning of society.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided for this task force.
It is unclear what specific actions or changes will result from the plans developed by the task force.

Bill History

2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.).
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
(Pending re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P.)
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4580.)
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E.M and P. & C.P.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
2026-02-17 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2043, as amended, Calderon.
Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the
Governor and charges it
Governor under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services. The act charges the office
with responsibility for the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. The act specifies that its provisions do not prevent the Governor or the office from formally recognizing committees or boards established by or with segments of the private sector, public agencies, or both, that control facilities, resources, or the provision of services essential to the mitigation of the effects of
an emergency or recovery therefrom.
This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services, on or before January 1, 2027, to
establish, within its office,
establish and lead
the Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force to develop a statewide strategy to protect mass gatherings, critical infrastructure, and other soft targets from attacks by unmanned aircraft systems. The bill would require the
office
Director of Emergency Services
to seek to compose a membership of the task force that includes representatives of
specific
public and private entities,
as specified,
including, among others, the State Threat Assessment Center. The bill would authorize the task force to achieve its specific purpose, primary objective, and goals by developing or updating response plans specific to unmanned aircraft systems that integrate detection systems into existing emergency operation plans or incident command systems, among other things.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

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