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.