HB 2521
bill sets state rules for vertiports
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the regulation of vertiports.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Landing pads for air taxis and cargo drones get rules.
The bill sets state rules for vertiports, which are landing and takeoff sites for vertical takeoff aircraft such as air taxis and cargo drones. It covers owners and operators of public-use vertiports serving federally authorized air mobility operators, and it covers cities and counties that zone land where vertiports sit. Covered vertiports must meet federal design standards and get federal approval of a layout plan before operating, and local governments may not grant exclusive vertiport rights and must use zoning to promote reasonable access for operators.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 6, 2025 and referred to the House Transportation committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB2521 · 2025-02-06
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the regulation of vertiports.
WHAT IT DOES
Landing pads for air taxis and cargo drones get rules.
The bill sets state rules for vertiports, which are landing and takeoff sites for vertical takeoff aircraft such as air taxis and cargo drones. It covers owners and operators of public-use vertiports serving federally authorized air mobility operators, and it covers cities and counties that zone land where vertiports sit. Covered vertiports must meet federal design standards and get federal approval of a layout plan before operating, and local governments may not grant exclusive vertiport rights and must use zoning to promote reasonable access for operators.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Transportation
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$350,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$350,000.00
- Cash
- $350,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $350,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101012315, 101037124, 101037559, 101066332, 101070691.
GOPAC Election Fund$115,000.00
GOPAC Election Fund
$115,000.00
- Cash
- $115,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $115,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101066332.
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$60,000.00
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2025 to Jul 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101037124, 101037559, 101066332.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$350,000.00
- Cash
- $350,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $350,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101012315, 101037124, 101037559, 101066332, 101070691.
GOPAC Election Fund
$115,000.00
- Cash
- $115,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $115,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101066332.
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2025 to Jul 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101037124, 101037559, 101066332.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Feb 6, 2025
03/17/2025 H Referred to Transportation: Mar 17 2025 2:32PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Political Subdivisions
Transportation--Aviation
FEDERAL RELATIONS
Text
The text as introduced · 297 words
89R10522 JRR-F By: Cook H.B. No. 2521 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the regulation of vertiports. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 21.073 to read as follows: Sec. 21.073. REGULATION OF VERTIPORTS. (a) In this section: (1) "Advanced air mobility" has the meaning assigned by Section 21.072. (2) "Vertiport" means infrastructure or a system with supporting services and equipment intended for landing, ground-handling, and takeoff of manned or unmanned vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. (b) This section applies only to a vertiport that is available for public use by an advanced air mobility operator authorized by the United States Department of Transportation or Federal Aviation Administration to engage in passenger or cargo services in scheduled or unscheduled service in or affecting interstate commerce. (c) Each vertiport subject to this section must comply with any applicable Federal Aviation Administration rule or advisory circular containing standards for vertiport design and performance characteristics. (d) An owner or operator of a vertiport subject to this section: (1) shall submit a vertiport layout plan to the Federal Aviation Administration in the form and manner prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration; and (2) may not conduct any operations at the vertiport unless the Federal Aviation Administration approves the plan submitted under Subdivision (1). (e) A political subdivision of this state, in exercising the political subdivision's zoning and land use authority: (1) may not grant or permit an exclusive right to one or more vertiport owners or operators; and (2) shall use that authority to promote reasonable access to vertiports located within the jurisdiction of the political subdivision by advanced air mobility operators. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.