Kansas agencies would face limits on drone and foreign supplier purchases

Government agencies would be barred from buying or acquiring covered drones, parts, and related services or equipment. This would apply to Kansas state and local government agencies. Covered drone parts include installed software and key parts used to record, store, or send information. An agency could make an otherwise barred purchase only if no reasonable alternative meets its need, the secretary of administration approves after consulting the adjutant general, and not buying would pose a greater threat to state safety and security. Contracts made before July 1, 2025, are exempt. Existing noncompliant parts acquired before that date could remain in use; agencies could use replacement parts acquired before that date, but could not acquire new replacement parts from a foreign principal. The proposed act would take effect after publication in the statute book. Its exemptions cover contracts made before July 1, 2025, and certain parts acquired before that date.

State agencies would generally be barred from contracting with a foreign principal for finished goods or services. This would apply to Kansas state agencies buying finished goods or services from a foreign principal, a term that includes certain governments, organizations, and people linked to countries of concern. An agency could contract with a supplier that completed federal review with no unresolved national security concerns, if the supplier had not since undergone a change in control covered by that review law. An agency could also contract with a supplier that had a national security agreement in effect on July 1, 2025, with the federal review committee or Department of Defense and continues to maintain it. Contracts made before July 1, 2025, are exempt. The proposed restriction would take effect after publication in the statute book and would not apply to contracts made before July 1, 2025.