| 1 | 1 | | 89R10522 JRR-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Cook H.B. No. 2521 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the regulation of vertiports. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Transportation Code, |
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| 12 | 12 | | is amended by adding Section 21.073 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 21.073. REGULATION OF VERTIPORTS. (a) In this |
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| 14 | 14 | | section: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) "Advanced air mobility" has the meaning assigned |
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| 16 | 16 | | by Section 21.072. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) "Vertiport" means infrastructure or a system with |
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| 18 | 18 | | supporting services and equipment intended for landing, |
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| 19 | 19 | | ground-handling, and takeoff of manned or unmanned vertical takeoff |
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| 20 | 20 | | and landing aircraft. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (b) This section applies only to a vertiport that is |
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| 22 | 22 | | available for public use by an advanced air mobility operator |
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| 23 | 23 | | authorized by the United States Department of Transportation or |
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| 24 | 24 | | Federal Aviation Administration to engage in passenger or cargo |
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| 25 | 25 | | services in scheduled or unscheduled service in or affecting |
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| 26 | 26 | | interstate commerce. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (c) Each vertiport subject to this section must comply with |
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| 28 | 28 | | any applicable Federal Aviation Administration rule or advisory |
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| 29 | 29 | | circular containing standards for vertiport design and performance |
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| 30 | 30 | | characteristics. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (d) An owner or operator of a vertiport subject to this |
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| 32 | 32 | | section: |
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| 33 | 33 | | (1) shall submit a vertiport layout plan to the |
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| 34 | 34 | | Federal Aviation Administration in the form and manner prescribed |
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| 35 | 35 | | by the Federal Aviation Administration; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (2) may not conduct any operations at the vertiport |
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| 37 | 37 | | unless the Federal Aviation Administration approves the plan |
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| 38 | 38 | | submitted under Subdivision (1). |
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| 39 | 39 | | (e) A political subdivision of this state, in exercising the |
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| 40 | 40 | | political subdivision's zoning and land use authority: |
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| 41 | 41 | | (1) may not grant or permit an exclusive right to one |
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| 42 | 42 | | or more vertiport owners or operators; and |
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| 43 | 43 | | (2) shall use that authority to promote reasonable |
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| 44 | 44 | | access to vertiports located within the jurisdiction of the |
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| 45 | 45 | | political subdivision by advanced air mobility operators. |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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