By: Plesa (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa of Hidalgo) H.C.R. No. 98
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2025;
  May 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Border
  Security; May 15, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 15, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 
  WHEREAS, The deployment of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems
  at the United States-Mexico border presents a complex challenge
  requiring seamless coordination among federal, state, and local
  entities; and
         WHEREAS, Although the security of international borders is a
  shared responsibility, states are not permitted to engage in UAS
  detection or mitigation activities to counter credible threats;
  current federal statutes only allow four federal departments,
  Homeland Security, Justice, Defense, and Energy, to conduct
  Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems operations for border security
  purposes; states are also preempted from regulating aviation safety
  and airspace use, which are under the exclusive domain of the
  Federal Aviation Administration; and
         WHEREAS, While federal agencies have highly developed
  expertise in Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems, state and local
  officials possess valuable on-the-ground knowledge and resources
  that could enhance efforts to address the threat of UAS at the
  border; the ability to respond to UAS threats would be greatly
  enhanced through joint training opportunities, increased
  information sharing, and the establishment of clear protocols for
  rapid communication and coordination in response to UAS incidents;
  in addition, states bordering other countries would need funding
  for acquisition, operational, and training costs involved in
  deploying anti-drone technology; and
         WHEREAS, Federal law enforcement officials are advocating
  for Congress to expand C-UAS authorities to state, local, tribal,
  and territorial partners, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
  has indicated support for the swift expansion of C-UAS authority to
  these SLTT partners; moreover, the issue has given rise to proposed
  legislation, including the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety,
  and Reauthorization Act (H.R.8610), which aims to create a pilot
  program that would provide select state and covered law enforcement
  agencies with some drone-mitigation powers; recent reports of
  cartels threatening to target federal agents with explosive-laden
  UAS underline the urgency of taking action; and
         WHEREAS, The security of our borders is crucial to the safety
  and well-being of all citizens, and the evolving nature of the UAS
  threat demands the utmost efficiency and effectiveness in
  coordination among federal, state, and local entities; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to enhance
  coordination among federal, state, and local authorities in the
  deployment of C-UAS technologies for border security; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
  copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
  the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
  Representatives of the United States Congress, to the secretaries
  of Homeland Security and Defense, and to all the members of the
  Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this
  resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to
  the Congress of the United States of America.
 
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