A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation to the agriculture commissioner, the attorney general, the department of career and technical education, the department of health and human services, and the department of transportation to increase the use of uncrewed aircraft systems, autonomous vehicles, or other autonomous technologies in the state; to provide for a legislative management study; and to provide for a legislative management report.

HB 1037 allocates $750,000 to each of five state departments (agriculture commissioner, attorney general, transportation department, health and human services, and career and technical education) for grants to support autonomous technology use. It provides funding for agriculture businesses to inspect property with drones, law enforcement for missing persons searches and crime scenes, and transportation entities to monitor highways using uncrewed aircraft systems. Recipients must match state funds at a 1:4 ratio and report grant usage to the legislature. The funds are one-time, covering the 2025-2027 biennium, with each department required to submit reports detailing grant recipients and expenditures.