Parker Air Mobility Bill Bars Local Rules On Self-Flying Aircraft

The text as introduced · 869 words

89R13044 JRR-F

By: Parker
S.B. No. 1507

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to advanced air mobility.

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. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY. (a) In this section:

(1) "Advanced air mobility" means an air

transportation system primarily using electric aircraft, including

electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and electric

conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, with a gross takeoff

weight of 300 pounds or more to transport passengers or cargo or

provide services in an urban or regional setting.

(2) "Powered lift aircraft" means an aircraft capable

of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low-speed flight that

depends principally on:

(A) engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust

for lift during vertical takeoff or vertical landing; and

(B) nonrotating airfoil for lift during

horizontal flight.

(3) "Vertiport" means an area of land, an area of

water, or a structure, including associated buildings and

facilities, that is used or intended to be used for landing or

takeoff of powered lift aircraft.

(b) A provision of this section applicable to powered lift

aircraft or electric aircraft, including electric vertical takeoff

and landing aircraft and electric conventional takeoff and landing

aircraft, applies only to an aircraft that:

(1) has a gross takeoff weight of 300 pounds or more;

and

(2) is capable of transporting passengers or cargo.

(c) The department shall:

(1) establish an office within the aviation division

of the department to provide technical support for advanced air

mobility infrastructure at airports in this state, with a

particular focus on electric aircraft and autonomous aircraft;

(2) develop a statewide strategic plan for advanced

air mobility in collaboration with industry and community

representatives;

(3) identify methods to encourage the use of

consensus-based vertiport standards and support uniform planning

and zoning enabling provisions relating to powered lift aircraft,

autonomous aircraft, electric aviation, and other advances in

aviation technology across the state;

(4) in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission

of Texas and an independent organization certified under Section

39.151, Utilities Code, estimate the required electric generation

and transmission capacity for the different implementation phases

of advanced air mobility in this state and evaluate the use of other

fuel sources with respect to advanced air mobility;

(5) develop and provide to local governments, regional

councils of government, and other appropriate governmental

entities a guidebook and technical resources to support uniform

planning and zoning provisions across this state relating to

powered lift aircraft, electric aircraft and aviation, and other

advances in aviation technology;

(6) in collaboration with the office of the governor,

the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education

Coordinating Board, develop and lead a statewide education campaign

for local and regional public officials on the benefits of electric

powered lift aircraft and advancements in aviation technology;

(7) develop and publish materials on the department's

Internet website to inform public officials, members of the public,

the aviation community, and recreational users of unmanned aircraft

of advanced air mobility and developments in that technology; and

(8) establish and administer a program under which the

department provides matching funds on behalf of public institutions

of higher education in this state in order to receive federal grants

relating to research and development of advanced air mobility in

this state.

(d) The department, the office of the governor, the Texas

Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

shall jointly collaborate with school districts, institutions of

higher education, and interested public and private stakeholders on

educational opportunities relating to advanced air mobility

technology.

(e) The statewide strategic plan developed under Subsection

(c)(2) must:

(1) include short-term, medium-term, and long-term

goals for advanced air mobility in this state and the associated

economic impact of achieving those goals; and

(2) comprehensively address all aspects of advanced

air mobility in this state, including:

(A) advanced air mobility use cases;

(B) existing infrastructure and necessary

infrastructure upgrades, including upgrades enabling autonomous

operations;

(C) regulatory best practices; and

(D) updates to the Texas Airport System Plan to

include vertiports, electric aircraft charging, and the

infrastructure needs of other advances in aviation technology as

appropriate.

(f) The commission shall adopt rules to implement the

program established under Subsection (c)(8). The rules must

specify a minimum percentage of additional matching funds that must

be provided by the advanced air mobility industry or other persons

as a condition of receiving matching funds from the department

under the program.

(g) A political subdivision of this state may not enact,

adopt, or enforce a rule, ordinance, order, resolution, or other

regulation relating to advanced air mobility, the ownership of an

advanced air mobility aircraft, or the aerial operation of an

advanced air mobility aircraft unless:

(1) the political subdivision is an airport operator;

and

(2) the regulation governs:

(A) the operation of an advanced air mobility

aircraft within the geographic boundaries of the airport for which

the political subdivision is the airport operator; or

(B) the takeoff or landing of an advanced air

mobility aircraft at an airport described by Paragraph (A).

SECTION 2. Section 21.072, Transportation Code, is

repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.