BROOKHAVEN, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A set of recently proposed bills in the General Assembly would, if passed, severely restrict the ability of state and local governments to use certain types of drones.

Both HB205 and SB64 take aim at drone vendors with ties to foreign adversaries like China and Russia. Many of the most popular brands of commercial drones – like DJI and Autel – have locations in or ownership ties to foreign countries considered adversaries.

Lawmakers fear those countries may be able to gain access to the data and footage captured by drones used at many of Georgia’s local police and fire departments, as well as the litany of other local agencies that utilize drones for their work.

Both bills suggest banning certain drone vendors from purchase by local entities and gives local governments three years to come into compliance.

But for local entities that use drones, it’s a concern. Brookhaven has been using drones for nearly five years and their city manager told Atlanta News First the technology is an “invaluable tool” for the city and its residents.

“It keeps our officers safe, it keeps our communities safe,” said Brookhaven city manager Christian Sigman. “And that’s not just police, that’s police, fire, EMS, emergency management, Georgia Power, the sewer district.”

Brookhaven and many other localities use drones for building and construction surveying, road work planning and even finding lost people, as Brookhaven’s drones did when a child went missing at last year’s busy cherry blossom festival.

Sigman is worried they could lose the security and convenience the drones provide, as well as the money they paid to get them.

“It would make a multi-hundred-thousand dollar plus investment just null and void,” Sigman said. “If the state government wants to provide the hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace these drones, no problem at all. But it’s just not there.”

The ban would only apply to state and local government entities, not to private citizens. HB205 cleared a crucial committee vote on Wednesday and is now on its way to the full floor for a vote. It would require Georgia Emergency Management to compile a list for local government entities to reference.

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