Bill > SB1198

This bill amends the Texas Government Code to expand the definition of "critical infrastructure facility" to include spaceports and related launch facilities. Specifically, the bill adds language that incorporates any property used for spacecraft launch, landing, recovery, or testing that is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) into the existing list of critical infrastructure facilities. This expansion means that such spaceport properties would receive the same legal protections as other critical infrastructure sites like pipelines, airports, and military installations. The bill provides that these changes will only apply to offenses and legal causes of action that occur on or after September 1, 2025, when the legislation takes effect. By broadening the definition of critical infrastructure, the bill aims to provide enhanced legal safeguards for spaceport facilities, potentially creating more severe criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized or malicious interference with these sites, which are increasingly important to Texas's aerospace and commercial space industries.