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.