Committee advances Advanced Air Mobility bill; state toolkit and outreach emphasized, not mandates for local governments

Senator Wayne Harper presented Senate Bill 96, called the Advanced Air Mobility Amendments, describing it as a continuation of prior sessions’ work to prepare state code and guidance for emerging aircraft and delivery systems including drones and air taxis.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend the bill to the full Senate.

Harper said the bill directs the Department of Transportation to conduct outreach and an educational campaign on advanced air mobility, to create a best-practices toolkit for political subdivisions, and to add statutory definitions such as "advanced air mobility system." He emphasized that the toolkit and outreach are intended to enable local governments and businesses rather than to mandate local actions.

Senator Kwan asked that the committee consider passenger protections for unaccompanied minors as part of future work; Harper and staff noted that the item could be added to interim study work and a staff member took a note to that effect. Senator Reid raised concerns about insurance and safety for people under flight paths; Harper and other supporters said insurance and safety considerations would be part of the toolkit and that the state could learn from other jurisdictions already piloting related technology.

Carson Eilers, policy director for the Utah League of Cities and Towns, testified online in support and said the bill "rather than requiring anything of local governments, it really is the state stepping forward to be a partner with local governments and provides resources and tools and helps provide information to local governments to help figure it out with the state." The League welcomed the partnership approach.

Senator Kwan moved the favorable recommendation to the full Senate; the motion passed unanimously by voice vote. The bill text as presented creates definitions, authorizes a UDOT outreach and education effort, and directs development of a toolkit containing best practices for political subdivisions to use when permitting or planning for vertiports and other advanced air mobility infrastructure.