Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
State Government & Tribal Relations Committee
HB 2462
Brief Description: Countering unpiloted aircraft systems.
Sponsors: Representatives Reeves and Ryu.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Governor, through the Adjutant General, to promulgate rules for countering unpiloted aircraft system (UAS) threats.
  • Permits the Governor to call the State Guard and National Guard into active service to counter UAS threats.
Hearing Date: 1/23/26
Staff: Connor Schiff (786-7093).
Background:

Unpiloted Aircraft Systems.

An "unpiloted aircraft system" (UAS) is an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.  An unpiloted aircraft system must meet the same criteria and standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration for an unmanned aircraft system.

 

In 2025 federal legislation was enacted to extend the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to counter drone activities until 2031.  This authority allows the DHS and the DOJ to track, detect, and mitigate UASs that pose threats to public safety.  The legislation also permits state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, after training and certification, to take actions necessary to mitigate a credible threat that a UAS poses to the safety or security of people, facilities, assets, large-venue events, critical infrastructure, or correctional facilities.  Authorized mitigation actions include the detection, identification, monitoring, and tracking of UASs.  When necessary, and only with federally authorized technologies, trained law enforcement agencies may disrupt the control links of a UAS, seize control of a UAS, confiscate a UAS, or use reasonable force to disable and destroy a UAS that presents a credible threat.

 

The Organized Militia of Washington. 

The organized militia includes both the State Guard and National Guard of Washington. 
Summary of Bill:

The Governor, through the Adjutant General, must promulgate rules for:

  • the organization, maintenance, and training of the State Guard and National Guard to counter unpiloted aircraft system (UAS) threats posed to the safety or security of people, critical public infrastructure, and correctional facilities, and to support state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement in countering these threats;
  • the detection, identification, monitoring, tracking, and mitigation of UASs; and
  • the acquisition, use, issue, and disposal of military property related to countering unpiloted aircraft system threats.

 

The Governor is granted the authority to order the State Guard and National Guard of Washington, or any part thereof, into active service to support state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement in the detection, identification, monitoring, tracking, and mitigation of UASs that pose credible threats to people, critical public infrastructure, and correctional facilities.  The State Guard and National Guard that are ordered into active service must be trained and certified by the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, through a training center that serves as the certifying authority for the National Guard.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 21, 2026.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.