Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026	($7,149,600)
2027	($649,600)
2028	($649,600)
2029	($649,600)
2030	($649,600)

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026	($7,149,600)	5.0
2027	($649,600)	5.0
2028	($649,600)	5.0
2029	($649,600)	5.0
2030	($649,600)	5.0

The bill would require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish an office within its Aviation Division to provide technical support for advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure and airports in Texas and develop a statewide strategic plan for AAM in collaboration with industry and community representatives. The bill would require TxDOT to identify methods to encourage the use of consensus-based vertiport standards and support uniform planning and zoning enabling provisions relating to certain types of aircraft and aviation technology. The bill would require TxDOT, in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and a certified independent organization, to estimate the required electric generation and transmission capacity for the different implementation phases of AAM in Texas and evaluate the use of other fuel sources with respect to AAM.

The bill would require TxDOT to collaborate with the Office of the Governor (OOG), Texas Education Agency (TEA), and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to develop and lead a statewide education campaign on the benefits of AAM technology. The bill would require TxDOT to develop and publish on the department's Internet website materials to inform the public about AAM and related technological developments. The bill would require TxDOT to establish and administer a program to provide matching funds on behalf of Texas public institutions of higher education to receive federal grants related to AAM research and development. The bill would require TxDOT, OOG, TEA, and THECB to collaborate with school districts, institutions of higher education, including public and private stakeholders on educational opportunities related to AAM technology.

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Based on the analysis provided by TxDOT, it is assumed the agency would incur one-time costs totaling $6.5 million in fiscal year 2026 to implement provisions of the bill requiring development of a statewide strategic plan, estimating electric generation and transmission capacity needs, and development of the public information and public education elements of the bill.

TxDOT estimates four additional full-time equivalent (FTE) positions would be required to establish the AAM office within the department's Aviation Division and one additional FTE position to administer the program to provide matching funds for federal grants related to AAM research and development. Based on the information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed the annual personnel costs would be $649,600 for salaries and employee benefits beginning in fiscal year 2026.

Because the availability of federal grants and potential amount of federal matching funds for AAM research and development is unknown, the cost to the State to provide matching funds to institutions of higher education for such grants cannot be determined at this time.

It is assumed any costs or duties required of other participating state agencies and Texas institutions of higher education could be implemented within existing resources.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 2, 2025

TO:	Honorable Tom Craddick, Chair, House Committee on Transportation

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB3134 by Cook (Relating to advanced air mobility.), As Introduced