As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session S. B. No. 180
2025-2026
Senator Johnson
Cosponsors: Senators Brenner, Cirino
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) "Foreign adversary" means
a country listed on the registry published by the
secretary of state under division (C) of this section.
(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
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As Introduced
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 foreign adversary.
(2) No state funds shall be used in connection with small
unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by a foreign
adversary, 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 foreign adversary.
(C)(1) The secretary of state shall compile and update at
least one time every six months a registry of foreign
adversaries and other persons that, based on the best
information available to the secretary of state, constitute a
threat to the agricultural production, critical infrastructure,
security, or military defense of this state or the United
States.
(2) The registry shall be published on the secretary of
state's web site.
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(3) The secretary of state shall consult all of the
following in compiling the registry:
(a) The list of persons determined by the secretary of
commerce of the United States to have engaged in a long-term
pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to
the national security of the United States or the security and
safety of United States persons and, therefore, to constitute
foreign adversaries for the purposes of Executive Order 13873,
issued by the president of the United States on May 15, 2019;
(b) The terrorist exclusion list compiled by the secretary
of state of the United States in consultation with the attorney
general of the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1182;
(c) The list of countries determined by the secretary of
state of the United States that have repeatedly provided support
for acts of international terrorism under 50 U.S.C. 4813(c) and
22 U.S.C. 2780(d);
(d) The list of individuals and entities designated by or
in accordance with Executive Order 13224, issued by the
president of the United States on September 23, 2021, or
Executive Order 13268, issued by the president of the United
States on July 2, 2002.
(4) The secretary of state shall not include on the
registry any person that does not appear on at least one of the
federal lists described in division (C)(3) of this section.
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