LANDED Act Grants State Police Power to Seize, Disrupt, or Destroy Drones Under New Federal Agreements

The Law Against Nefarious Drones, Enforcement, Deconfliction Act, or the LANDED Act, is a new piece of legislation aimed at giving state and local law enforcement the ability to counter unauthorized drone activity. Essentially, this bill creates a formal, federally approved process for State law enforcement agencies to acquire and use specialized counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) technology—the kind that can detect, track, disrupt, or even physically disable a drone.

To get this power, State agencies must apply to the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) and enter into a detailed agreement. This agreement specifies the exact counter-UAS equipment they can use, the circumstances under which they can use it, and includes strict reporting requirements. Crucially, the bill grants these authorized agencies the power to take mitigation actions that would otherwise violate existing federal laws, such as interfering with communications or seizing property. This is a massive shift in authority, moving serious counter-drone capabilities out of the sole domain of federal agencies and into the hands of local police, provided they follow the new federal rulebook.

The Fine Print: What Police Can Do to Your Drone

The most significant part of the LANDED Act is the list of authorized actions State law enforcement can take against a drone deemed a “threat.” The bill defines a threat broadly, covering activities “reasonably believed to create the potential for bodily harm or loss of human life,” as well as threats to law enforcement, public safety, national security, critical infrastructure, or those that could cause “severe economic damage.”

Once authorized, police can: detect, identify, monitor, and track the UAS (even accessing the communications used to control it); disrupt control of the drone by interfering with its communications; seize or take control; or, if necessary, use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the UAS. For a drone enthusiast, a photographer, or a construction company using a drone for mapping, this means your property could be legally seized or destroyed if an officer deems its operation a threat under this broad definition, even if you weren't flying maliciously. While initial mitigation actions require case-by-case federal approval for the first 180 days, the eventual goal is for State agencies to handle these threats directly.

Airspace and Spectrum Traffic Control

Because counter-UAS systems often involve jamming or interfering with radio frequencies, the bill mandates serious coordination between DHS, the Attorney General, and the FAA. They must consult with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that the police equipment doesn't accidentally disrupt civilian communications, like cell service or Wi-Fi networks. This is a critical safeguard; without it, police trying to stop a rogue drone could unintentionally knock out the 911 system in a crowded area. Furthermore, the FAA must confirm that the use of these systems will not interfere with the safe operation of the National Airspace System, especially near airports.

Show Me the Money: Grants and Reporting

To help State agencies afford this high-tech equipment and necessary training, the LANDED Act establishes a new Counter-UAS Security Grant Program. This is a direct financial lifeline for agencies looking to beef up their security against drone threats but lacking the budget to do so.

Separately, the bill also addresses internal government drone use. It requires DHS and the FAA to set up a mandatory reporting system for nonemergency drone operations by federal, state, and local agencies. This system will include a database that tracks the transponder ID, date, and time of government drones in use. This is a win for transparency and safety, ensuring that government drones don’t conflict with each other or, potentially, with authorized civilian operations. Finally, the Department of Defense Inspector General is required to conduct a thorough review and report on drone activity by foreign adversaries over critical U.S. military assets, linking this local law enforcement expansion to broader national security concerns.