| 1 | 1 | | 89R10521 JRR-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Lalani H.B. No. 3949 |
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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 advanced air mobility. |
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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. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY. (a) In this section: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) "Advanced air mobility" means an air |
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| 15 | 15 | | transportation system primarily using electric aircraft, including |
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| 16 | 16 | | electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and electric |
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| 17 | 17 | | conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, with a gross takeoff |
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| 18 | 18 | | weight of 300 pounds or more to transport passengers or cargo or |
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| 19 | 19 | | provide services in an urban or regional setting. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) "Powered lift aircraft" means an aircraft capable |
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| 21 | 21 | | of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low-speed flight that |
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| 22 | 22 | | depends principally on: |
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| 23 | 23 | | (A) engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust |
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| 24 | 24 | | for lift during vertical takeoff or vertical landing; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (B) nonrotating airfoil for lift during |
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| 26 | 26 | | horizontal flight. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) "Vertiport" means an area of land, an area of |
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| 28 | 28 | | water, or a structure, including associated buildings and |
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| 29 | 29 | | facilities, that is used or intended to be used for landing or |
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| 30 | 30 | | takeoff of powered lift aircraft. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (b) A provision of this section applicable to powered lift |
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| 32 | 32 | | aircraft or electric aircraft, including electric vertical takeoff |
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| 33 | 33 | | and landing aircraft and electric conventional takeoff and landing |
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| 34 | 34 | | aircraft, applies only to an aircraft that: |
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| 35 | 35 | | (1) has a gross takeoff weight of 300 pounds or more; |
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| 36 | 36 | | and |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) is capable of transporting passengers or cargo. |
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| 38 | 38 | | (c) The department shall: |
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| 39 | 39 | | (1) develop a statewide plan, or an update to the Texas |
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| 40 | 40 | | Airport System Plan, to include vertiports, electric aircraft |
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| 41 | 41 | | charging, and the infrastructure needs of other advances in |
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| 42 | 42 | | aviation technology as appropriate; |
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| 43 | 43 | | (2) designate a department employee as a subject |
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| 44 | 44 | | matter expert and resource for local and regional governmental |
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| 45 | 45 | | entities addressing advances in aviation technology, including |
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| 46 | 46 | | electric powered lift aircraft and electric aircraft and aviation; |
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| 47 | 47 | | (3) develop and provide to local and regional |
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| 48 | 48 | | governmental entities a guidebook and technical resources to |
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| 49 | 49 | | support uniform planning and zoning provisions across this state |
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| 50 | 50 | | relating to powered lift aircraft, electric aircraft and aviation, |
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| 51 | 51 | | and other advances in aviation technology; and |
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| 52 | 52 | | (4) lead a statewide education campaign for local and |
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| 53 | 53 | | regional public officials on the benefits of electric powered lift |
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| 54 | 54 | | aircraft and advancements in aviation technology. |
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| 55 | 55 | | (d) A political subdivision of this state may not enact, |
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| 56 | 56 | | adopt, or enforce a rule, ordinance, order, resolution, or other |
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| 57 | 57 | | regulation relating to advanced air mobility, the ownership of an |
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| 58 | 58 | | advanced air mobility aircraft, or the aerial operation of an |
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| 59 | 59 | | advanced air mobility aircraft unless: |
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| 60 | 60 | | (1) the political subdivision is an airport operator; |
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| 61 | 61 | | and |
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| 62 | 62 | | (2) the regulation governs: |
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| 63 | 63 | | (A) the operation of an advanced air mobility |
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| 64 | 64 | | aircraft within the geographic boundaries of the airport for which |
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| 65 | 65 | | the political subdivision is the airport operator; or |
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| 66 | 66 | | (B) the takeoff or landing of an advanced air |
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| 67 | 67 | | mobility aircraft at an airport described by Paragraph (A). |
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| 68 | 68 | | SECTION 2. Section 21.072, Transportation Code, is |
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| 69 | 69 | | repealed. |
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| 70 | 70 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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