HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES — NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

COMMITTEE:    General Aviation, Select 

TIME & DATE:  10:00 AM, Tuesday, August 18, 2026 

PLACE:        E2.026 
CHAIR:        Rep. Keith Bell 

Public testimony may be limited at the discretion of the chair.

The committee will meet to hear invited and public testimony on the following interim charges:

Examine the condition and capacity of general aviation airports in the state, as well as capital improvements necessary to promote transportation access and aviation safety. Identify opportunities for the state to maximize federal funding for airport improvements and other alternative funding sources for aviation infrastructure.

Evaluate barriers for carriers to expand regional air service and enter underserved markets. Recommend options for the development of a statewide regional air service master plan.

Study shortages in the aviation workforce and explore opportunities for the aviation industry to partner with public universities, community colleges, and state technical colleges to develop training pathways.

Examine the role of general aviation airports in responding to disasters. Identify improvements to better facilitate staging and deployment of assets, and improved coordination between state and federal agencies.

Study governance and procurement frameworks for general aviation airports, including the assessment of fees. Recommend best practices to improve operational efficiency and position general aviation airports to integrate emerging aviation technology.

Electronic public comment will be available for:

General aviation airports' infrastructure in Texas

Expanding regional air service in Texas

Shortages in aviation workforce

Role of general aviation airports in disaster response

Procurement process for general aviation airports in Texas

Emerging aviation technology

Texas residents who wish to electronically submit comments related to agenda items on this notice without testifying in person can do so until the hearing is adjourned by visiting:

https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c023

For those persons who will be testifying, information for in-person witness registration, can be found here: https://mytxlegis.capitol.texas.gov/HWRSPublic/About.aspx

A live video broadcast of this hearing will be available here: https://house.texas.gov/video-audio/

Instructions related to public access to the meeting location are available here: https://house.texas.gov/committees/public-access-house-committee-meetings/

NOTICE OF ASSISTANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, are requested to contact Stacey Nicchio at (512) 463-0850, 72 hours prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.