HF 2405 (LSB 5244YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2405

BY  WILLS

A BILL FOR

An Act creating a study committee on advanced air mobility.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION —— STUDY COMMITTEE —— ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY.
   1.  The department of transportation shall convene a study committee to evaluate whether an advisory committee is necessary to support advanced air mobility planning within this state. All provisions of this Act shall be interpreted in a manner that conforms to and is preempted by applicable federal law, including the Federal Aviation Act and regulations issued by the federal aviation administration.
   2.  The study committee shall include representatives from state aviation experts, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle experts, conventional takeoff and landing vehicle experts, advanced air mobility industries, the department of transportation, and other key stakeholders as determined by the study committee members.
   3.  a.  If the study committee determines that an advisory committee is not necessary, the study committee shall still actively solicit input from industry stakeholders and file a report on advanced air mobility planning with the general assembly on or before January 11, 2027.
   b.  If the study committee determines that an advisory committee is necessary, the department shall establish an advisory committee.
   4.  The advisory committee shall do all of the following:
   a.  Review Iowa Code and Iowa administrative code and recommend any changes that are necessary to facilitate advanced air mobility implementation to the general assembly.
   b.  Conduct a fiscal assessment to identify existing resources, estimate future needs, and prioritize investments required for the effective implementation of advanced air mobility.
   c.  Designate a subject matter expert for advanced air mobility within the department of transportation who must be available as a resource for local and regional jurisdictions navigating advances in aviation technology, including electric powered-lift aircraft and electric aviation.
   d.  Review existing state aviation standards and guidelines, airport facility planning, and compatibility guidance to ensure that the standards, guidelines, planning, and guidance are applicable to advanced air mobility planning.
   e.  Provide local and regional jurisdictions with a guidebook and technical resources to support uniform planning and zoning language across the state related to powered-lift aircraft, electric aviation, and other advances in aviation technology.
   f.  Estimate the required electrical generation and transmission capacity with the major state utilities, for the different implementation phases of advanced air mobility in the state.
   g.  Coordinate with stakeholders to identify possible advanced air mobility transportation hubs throughout the state to support innovative point-to-point transportation options.
   h.  Provide resources and assistance on advanced air mobility technology and infrastructure to local governments, regional councils, transportation planning organizations, the advanced air mobility industry, and other relevant entities to support integration of advanced air mobility innovation with community planning and promote advanced air mobility technology.
   i.  Ensure any recommendations are safe and consistent within this state.
   j.  File a report providing relevant details from the advisory committee’s actions and recommendations with the general assembly on or before January 10, 2028, including possible permanent codification of this subsection.
   5.  For purposes of this section:
   a.  “Advanced air mobility” means an air transportation system primarily utilizing electric aircraft, including electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, to carry passengers, carry cargo, or provide services in an urban or regional setting.
   b.  “Electric aircraft” includes electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft with a gross takeoff weight of three hundred pounds or more.
   c.  “Powered-lift aircraft” means aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low speed flight that depends principally on either engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for lift and on nonrotating airfoils for lift during horizontal flight.
   6.  This section is repealed July 1, 2028.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the department of transportation (DOT) to convene a study committee to evaluate whether an advisory committee is necessary to support advanced air mobility planning within Iowa.
   The study committee must include representatives from state aviation experts, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle experts, conventional takeoff and landing vehicle experts, advanced air mobility industries, the DOT, and other key stakeholders as determined by the study committee members.
   If the study committee determines that an advisory committee is not necessary, the study committee is required to actively solicit input from industry stakeholders and file a report on advanced air mobility planning with the general assembly on or before January 11, 2027.
   If the study committee determines that an advisory committee is necessary, the DOT must establish an advisory committee with duties described in the bill, including but not limited to the duty to file a report providing relevant details from the advisory committee’s actions and recommendations with the general assembly on or before January 10, 2028.