HB176 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

James LomaxRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Aviation, requires Transportation dept. to take certain actions related to advanced air mobility

Summary

HB176 requires the Alabama Department of Transportation to create a statewide plan for advanced air mobility, lead an education/awareness effort, designate a liaison to help jurisdictions, and restrict local governments from enacting AAM rules (airport operators may regulate within their own areas).

What This Bill Does

The Department of Transportation must develop a statewide plan that includes vertiports, electric aviation charging, and other infrastructure needs for advances in aviation technology. It must designate a liaison to assist local and regional jurisdictions and coordinate with public and private experts to provide educational and technical resources for uniform planning and zoning. The bill also restricts political subdivisions from enacting AAM laws or rules, with airport operators allowed to regulate only within their own geographic authority, and it imposes funding limitations on using certain state revenues to support the plan or local education/resources.

Who It Affects

• Local and regional jurisdictions (cities/counties) will receive educational and technical resources and guidance, but cannot pass AAM rules except as allowed by the bill's restrictions.
• Airport operators will be able to enact AAM-related rules within the geographic area they control, and are the only local entities permitted to regulate AAM within their boundaries.

Key Provisions

• The Department of Transportation must develop a statewide plan addressing vertiports, electric charging, and other AAM infrastructure needs.
• No specified state revenues (from funds like the Public Road and Bridge Fund or Rebuild Alabama Fund) may be used to develop/update the statewide plan or to provide local/regional jurisdictions with educational or technical resources for uniform planning or zoning.
• The department must designate a liaison for advanced air mobility to assist local and regional jurisdictions.
• The department must coordinate with public and private sector experts to provide educational and technical resources to support uniform planning and zoning language across the state.
• A political subdivision (except airport operators) may not enact laws, ordinances, regulations, or rules relating to advanced air mobility; airport operators may regulate AAM only within their own jurisdiction.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Transportation