SB 1500 Summary

• Prohibits Arizona state, county, local and municipal agencies from purchasing or using drones manufactured by or from companies domiciled in or controlled by countries of concern (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Syria), except for research and accountability purposes with 30-day advance notice to the department.

• Establishes strict data security requirements for agency drones including isolation from agency networks, antivirus scanning of data transfers, encrypted communications for certain drone types, and prohibition of connection to mobile devices issued by or connected to agencies.

• Requires flight mapping software providers to geofence Arizona's sensitive locations (military sites, power stations, critical infrastructure) to prevent unauthorized drone use; violations are Class 1 misdemeanors.

• Prohibits procurement or use of light detection and ranging (LIDAR) equipment manufactured in or by companies from countries of concern in new state infrastructure, with 90 days to remove and replace existing equipment.

• Blocks certification, licensing or regulatory approval of autonomous vehicles equipped with LIDAR equipment from countries of concern in Arizona.