Bill > HB1976

This bill establishes the Open Access to Public-Use Vertiports Act in Arkansas, creating a comprehensive framework for the development and regulation of vertiports (infrastructure for vertical take-off and landing aircraft). The legislation aims to promote equitable access to advanced air mobility operations by preventing monopolization and discrimination in vertiport usage. Key provisions include defining vertiports and public-use vertiports, mandating that political subdivisions cannot grant exclusive rights to specific vertiport operators, and encouraging the development of a diverse network of public-use vertiports across the state. The bill requires vertiport designs to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and mandates that vertiport owners submit layout plans for administrator approval before operations can commence. Additionally, the legislation promotes local zoning policies that support reasonable access for advanced air mobility operators and emphasizes the state's commitment to funding vertiport planning and construction through legislative appropriations. The bill is designed to be supplemental to federal law, with provisions that can be severed if found to conflict with federal regulations, thereby ensuring flexibility and adaptability in the emerging vertical aviation infrastructure landscape.