Bill Text: TX HCR98 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Urging Congress to enhance coordination among federal, state, and local authorities in the deployment of C-UAS technologies for border security.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)
Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Signed by the Governor [HCR98 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HCR98-Enrolled.html
| H.C.R. No. 98 | ||
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| 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. | ||
| Plesa | ||
| Lopez of Bexar | ||
| Morales of Maverick | ||
| Louderback | ||
| Pierson | ||
| Gámez | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 98 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 7, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 2, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 98 was adopted by the Senate on May | ||
| 20, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
