Bill Text: CA AB431 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-06 - From printer. May be heard in committee March 8. [AB431 Detail]
Download: California-2025-AB431-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 431
| Introduced by Assembly Member Wilson |
February 05, 2025 |
An act to add Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 21720) to Part 1 of Division 9 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to aviation.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 431, as introduced, Wilson.
Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act.
Existing law, the State Aeronautics Act, governs various matters relative to aviation in the state, and authorizes the Department of Transportation to adopt, administer, and enforce rules and regulations for the administration of the act. Existing law establishes the Advanced Air Mobility, Zero-Emission, and Electrification Aviation Advisory Panel to assess the feasibility and readiness of existing infrastructure to support a vertiport network to facilitate the development of advanced air mobility services, the development of a 3-year prioritized workplan for the state to advance advanced air mobility services, and pathways for promoting equity of access to advanced air mobility infrastructure, as specified. Existing law requires the department, not later than January 1, 2025, to report to the Legislature on the infrastructure feasibility and readiness study and the 3-year prioritized
workplan.
This bill, the Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act, would require the department to take certain actions related to advanced air mobility, as defined, including, among other things, developing a statewide plan, or updating the statewide aviation plan, to include vertiports, electric aviation charging, and the infrastructure needs of other advances in aviation technology, and designating a subject matter expert for advanced air mobility within the department, as specified. The bill would prohibit a political subdivision of the state, or an entity within a political subdivision of the state, from enacting a law, ordinance, or rule relating to advanced air mobility, the ownership of an advanced air mobility aircraft, or the aerial operation of an advanced air mobility aircraft, except as specified, and provides that the Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act supersedes any law, ordinance, or rule enacted by a political subdivision of the state before
July 1, 2025.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, applies to all cities, including charter cities.
Under existing law, a violation of the State Aeronautics Act is a crime.
Because the above provisions would be part of the State Aeronautics Act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) If developed and deployed at scale, the development of advanced air mobility can provide economic and environmental benefits to the state and the nation.
(b) The use of advanced air mobility can aid in California’s progress toward its statutory renewable energy and climate mandates.
(c) Diversity in technologies lowers overall costs. Advanced air mobility technology adds diversity to the state’s transportation portfolio.
(d) The development of advanced air mobility presents an
opportunity to California by providing a tremendous opportunity for economic growth, including the development and preservation of a skilled and trained construction workforce to carry out projects and long-term job creation, all while improving mobility and accessibility for all Californians.
(e) Advanced air mobility improves multimodal transportation and access to destinations by providing transportation opportunities that improve access to jobs, services, educational opportunities, and emergency and medical services.
(f) Advanced air mobility will allow all Californians to traverse densely populated areas in a matter of minutes instead of hours, expanding accessibility while reducing traffic congestion on our roadways.
(g) Investment in advanced air mobility can offer career pathways and workforce training in
clean energy development. Advanced air mobility will provide additional blue collar industrial work opportunities and support apprenticeship opportunities for a diverse labor pool.
SEC. 2.
Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 21720) is added to Part 1 of Division 9 of the Public Utilities Code, to read:CHAPTER 9. Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act
21720.
This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the “Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act.”21721.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) “Advanced air mobility” means an air transportation system primarily using electric aircraft, including eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft, to carry passengers, cargo, or provide services in an urban or regional setting, with a gross takeoff weight of 300 pounds or more.
(b) “eCTOL” means an electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft.
(c) “eVTOL” means an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
(d) “Powered-lift aircraft” means a heavier-than-air aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing,
and low-speed flight that depends principally on engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for lift during these flight regimes and on nonrotating airfoils for lift during horizontal flight.
(e) “Vertiport” means an area of land, water, or a structure used or intended to be used for the landing or takeoff of powered-lift aircraft and includes associated buildings and facilities.
21722.
This chapter only applies to electric aircraft, including eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft, and powered-lift aircraft that satisfy either of the following criteria:(a) Have a gross takeoff weight of 300 pounds or more.
(b) Are capable of carrying humans or an equivalent amount of cargo.
21723.
The department shall do all of the following:(a) Develop a statewide plan, or update the statewide aviation plan, to include vertiports, electric aviation charging, and the infrastructure needs of other advances in aviation technology in the statewide aviation plan and as appropriate in the statewide work plan.
(b) Designate a subject matter expert for advanced air mobility within the department as a resource for local and regional jurisdictions navigating advances in aviation technology, including electric powered-lift aircraft and electric aviation.
(c) Lead a statewide education campaign for local and regional decisionmakers to
educate them on the benefits of electric powered-lift aircraft and advancements in aviation technology.
(d) 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.
21724.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a political subdivision of the state, or an entity within a political subdivision of the state, shall not enact a law, ordinance, or rule relating to advanced air mobility, the ownership of an advanced air mobility aircraft, or the aerial operation of an advanced air mobility aircraft.(b) If the political subdivision or entity is an airport operator, it may enact a law, rule, or ordinance to govern either of the following:
(1) The operation of an advanced air mobility aircraft within the geographic boundaries of the airport over which the airport operator has authority.
(2) The takeoff or landing of an advanced air mobility aircraft at the airport over which the airport operator has authority.
(c) This chapter supersedes any law, ordinance, or rule enacted by a political subdivision of the state before July 1, 2025.
