SB 64: Local Government and State Government; certain transactions between government entities and certain foreign persons; prohibit

This bill addresses concerns about foreign-made drones and foreign-controlled companies doing business with Georgia governments. It adds a new section to Georgia's local government code and a new section to the state government code that both ban, starting January 1, 2028, any local government entity or state agency from acquiring small unmanned aircraft (drones weighing under 55 pounds) made or assembled by a 'covered foreign entity' domiciled in and controlled by China or Russia. State funds also could not be used with such drones after that date, and any government that already owns one could keep operating it only until January 1, 2029. The bill also rewrites an existing law (O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.2) that bars 'scrutinized companies' owned by the Chinese government from bidding on state contracts. It broadens the definition to include companies from any country the U.S. Secretary of Commerce designates a foreign adversary, extends the ban to bids submitted through third-party sellers, and specifically covers computers, printers, cables, and videoconferencing equipment. Companies that falsely certify they are not scrutinized face a civil penalty of at least $250,000 or twice the contract amount, contract termination, and disqualification from future state contracts.

• Bans local government entities from acquiring or contracting for small drones made or assembled by China- or Russia-controlled entities starting January 1, 2028.
• Bans the same drone acquisitions by state agencies starting January 1, 2028, and bars state funds from being used with such drones.
• Requires any government body that already owns a covered foreign drone to stop operating it after January 1, 2029.
• Expands the existing 'scrutinized company' contracting ban (O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.2) beyond China to any country designated a foreign adversary by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
• Extends the state contracting ban to bids submitted indirectly through third-party sellers and to specific goods like computers, printers, and videoconferencing services.
• Keeps the existing penalty structure for false certifications: a civil fine of at least $250,000 or twice the contract value, contract termination, and future bid ineligibility.

County and city governments, state agencies, and other local government departments, boards, and authorities that buy or operate drones or contract for goods and services; companies, especially those with ties to China or Russia, that sell drones or bid on Georgia state contracts; and vendors of computers, printers, cables, and videoconferencing equipment.

Governments across Georgia that currently use or plan to buy small drones from foreign-adversary-linked manufacturers would need to phase them out by 2029. Companies connected to China, Russia, or other designated foreign adversaries would lose access to Georgia state contracts, even when bidding through third parties, affecting who can supply state offices with everyday equipment.

• New O.C.G.A. § 36-84-2 defines 'covered foreign entity' as one domiciled in and controlled by China or Russia and bars local governments from acquiring covered small drones on or after January 1, 2028.
• Same section bars use of state funds on such drones and requires any already-owned covered drones to stop operating after January 1, 2029.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.2 to add 'foreign country of concern' (any nation the U.S. Secretary of Commerce designates a foreign adversary) to the scrutinized company definition, not just China.
• Section 2 extends the state contracting ban to bids made through third-party sellers and names computers, printers, cables, and videoconferencing services as covered goods.
• Section 2 keeps penalties for false certification: a civil fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the contract amount, contract termination, and disqualification from future bids.
• New O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.3 applies the same drone acquisition and operation bans described for local governments to state agencies, with the same January 1, 2028 and 2029 deadlines.

1. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
2. 2026-01-12Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
3. 2025-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
4. 2025-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2025-02-28Senate Recommitted (Senate)
6. 2025-02-10Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
7. 2025-02-06Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
8. 2025-01-30Senate Read and Referred (Senate)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)Primary sponsor
• John Albers (R, SD-56)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
• Max Burns (R, SD-23)
• Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-37)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-24)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)

• foreign adversary contracting
• drone regulation
• state government contracts
• China and Russia restrictions
• local government procurement