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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to advanced air mobility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 21.073 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.073. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Advanced air mobility" means an air |
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transportation system primarily using electric aircraft, including |
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electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and electric |
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conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, with a gross takeoff |
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weight of 300 pounds or more to transport passengers or cargo or |
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provide services in an urban or regional setting. |
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(2) "Powered lift aircraft" means an aircraft capable |
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of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low-speed flight that |
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depends principally on: |
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(A) engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust |
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for lift during vertical takeoff or vertical landing; and |
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(B) nonrotating airfoil for lift during |
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horizontal flight. |
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(3) "Vertiport" means an area of land, an area of |
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water, or a structure, including associated buildings and |
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facilities, that is used or intended to be used for landing or |
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takeoff of powered lift aircraft. |
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(b) A provision of this section applicable to powered lift |
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aircraft or electric aircraft, including electric vertical takeoff |
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and landing aircraft and electric conventional takeoff and landing |
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aircraft, applies only to an aircraft that: |
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(1) has a gross takeoff weight of 300 pounds or more; |
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and |
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(2) is capable of transporting passengers or cargo. |
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(c) The department shall: |
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(1) establish an office within the aviation division |
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of the department to provide technical support for advanced air |
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mobility infrastructure at airports in this state, with a |
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particular focus on electric aircraft and autonomous aircraft; |
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(2) develop a statewide strategic plan for advanced |
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air mobility in collaboration with industry and community |
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representatives; |
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(3) identify methods to encourage the use of |
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consensus-based vertiport standards and support uniform planning |
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and zoning enabling provisions relating to powered lift aircraft, |
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autonomous aircraft, electric aviation, and other advances in |
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aviation technology across the state; |
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(4) in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission |
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of Texas and an independent organization certified under Section |
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39.151, Utilities Code, estimate the required electric generation |
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and transmission capacity for the different implementation phases |
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of advanced air mobility in this state and evaluate the use of other |
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fuel sources with respect to advanced air mobility; |
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(5) develop and provide to local governments, regional |
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councils of government, and other appropriate governmental |
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entities a guidebook and technical resources to support uniform |
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planning and zoning provisions across this state relating to |
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powered lift aircraft, electric aircraft and aviation, and other |
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advances in aviation technology; |
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(6) in collaboration with the office of the governor, |
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the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board, develop and lead a statewide education campaign |
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for local and regional public officials on the benefits of electric |
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powered lift aircraft and advancements in aviation technology; |
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(7) develop and publish materials on the department's |
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Internet website to inform public officials, members of the public, |
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the aviation community, and recreational users of unmanned aircraft |
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of advanced air mobility and developments in that technology; and |
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(8) establish and administer a program under which the |
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department provides matching funds on behalf of public institutions |
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of higher education in this state in order to receive federal grants |
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relating to research and development of advanced air mobility in |
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this state. |
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(d) The department, the office of the governor, the Texas |
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Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall jointly collaborate with school districts, institutions of |
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higher education, and interested public and private stakeholders on |
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educational opportunities relating to advanced air mobility |
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technology. |
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(e) The statewide strategic plan developed under Subsection |
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(c)(2) must: |
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(1) include short-term, medium-term, and long-term |
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goals for advanced air mobility in this state and the associated |
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economic impact of achieving those goals; and |
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(2) comprehensively address all aspects of advanced |
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air mobility in this state, including: |
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(A) advanced air mobility use cases; |
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(B) existing infrastructure and necessary |
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infrastructure upgrades, including upgrades enabling autonomous |
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operations; |
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(C) regulatory best practices; and |
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(D) updates to the Texas Airport System Plan to |
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include vertiports, electric aircraft charging, and the |
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infrastructure needs of other advances in aviation technology as |
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appropriate. |
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(f) The commission shall adopt rules to implement the |
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program established under Subsection (c)(8). The rules must |
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specify a minimum percentage of additional matching funds that must |
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be provided by the advanced air mobility industry or other persons |
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as a condition of receiving matching funds from the department |
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under the program. |
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(g) A political subdivision of this state may not enact, |
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adopt, or enforce a rule, ordinance, order, resolution, or other |
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regulation relating to advanced air mobility, the ownership of an |
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advanced air mobility aircraft, or the aerial operation of an |
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advanced air mobility aircraft unless: |
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(1) the political subdivision is an airport operator; |
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and |
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(2) the regulation governs: |
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(A) the operation of an advanced air mobility |
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aircraft within the geographic boundaries of the airport for which |
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the political subdivision is the airport operator; or |
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(B) the takeoff or landing of an advanced air |
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mobility aircraft at an airport described by Paragraph (A). |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.072, Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |