BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2637

By: Cook

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Urban air mobility is a new, innovative mode of transportation that will streamline and modernize the future of mobility for passengers and cargo by relying on underutilized aerial transit routes in an effort to reduce the current burden on infrastructure, reduce traffic congestion, and lower harmful emissions. This new industry will involve leveraging innovative vehicle designs and system technologies and embracing the sharing economy to enable a novel transportation service network. The industry will also need to partner with federal, state, and local governments to effectively incorporate mobility solutions into current transportation networks. In anticipation of future plans to test this technology in Texas, there have been calls to study any potential changes to state law that are needed to facilitate the development of this industry and create a safe and efficient regulatory system. H.B. 2637 addresses this issue by creating the urban air mobility advisory committee.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2637 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Transportation Commission to appoint an urban air mobility advisory committee to assess current state law and any potential changes to state law that are needed to facilitate the development of urban air mobility operations and infrastructure in Texas. The bill provides for the composition and operation of the advisory committee and requires the advisory committee, not later than September 1, 2022, to report to the commission and to the members of the legislature the committee's findings and recommendations on any changes to state law that are needed to facilitate the development of urban air mobility operations and infrastructure. The advisory committee is abolished and the bill's provisions expire January 1, 2023.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.