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HB317 • 2026

Prohibit purchase of drones made by a covered foreign entity

Prohibit purchase of drones made by a covered foreign entity

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Ty D. Mathews
Last action
Official status
As Introduced
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prohibit purchase of drones made by a covered foreign entity

To enact section 5501.84 of the Revised Code to prohibit the purchase of small unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

What This Bill Does

  • To enact section 5501.84 of the Revised Code to prohibit the purchase of small unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. Ohio Legislature

    As Introduced

Official Summary Text

To enact section 5501.84 of the Revised Code to prohibit the purchase of small unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 317

2025-2026

Representative Mathews, T.

Cosponsors: Representatives John,
Hoops, Deeter, Fischer, Johnson, King, Miller, K., White, E., Robb
Blasdel, Gross

A
BILL

To
enact section 5501.84 of the Revised Code
to
prohibit the purchase of small unmanned aircraft systems manufactured
or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 5501.84 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
5501.84.
(A)
As used in this section:

(1)
"Covered foreign entity" means an individual, foreign
government, or party to which one or more of the following criteria
apply:

(a)
The entity is designated on the consolidated screening list published
by the United States department of commerce or entity list published
by the United States department of commerce.

(b)
The entity is domiciled in the People's Republic of China or the
Russian Federation.

(c)
The entity is under the influence or control of the government of the
People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation.

(d)
The entity is a subsidiary or affiliate of an individual, government,
or party to which any of divisions (A)(1)(a) to (c) of this section
apply.

(2)
"Public entity" means the state and all political
subdivisions of the state, including all boards, authorities,
commissions, agencies, committees, councils, state colleges or
universities, and other state entities created by the Ohio
Constitution or the Revised Code.

(3)
"Small unmanned aircraft system" means a powered, aerial
vehicle to which all of the following apply:

(a)
The vehicle does not carry a human operator and is operated without
the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the
vehicle.

(b)
The aircraft uses aerodynamic forces to provide lift.

(c)
The vehicle can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely.

(d)
The vehicle is either expendable or recoverable.

"Small
unmanned aircraft system" is commonly referred to as a drone and
does not include a satellite.

(B)(1)
A public entity shall not purchase or otherwise acquire a small
unmanned aircraft system that is manufactured or assembled by a
covered foreign entity.

(2)
No state funds shall be used in connection with small unmanned
aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign
entity, including state funds that are awarded through a contract,
grant, or cooperative agreement or that are otherwise made available.

(3)
On or after May 1, 2027, a public entity shall not operate a small
unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by a covered
foreign entity.