Agency outlines 2025 aerospace bills including engine test cell, UAS/AAM clearinghouse and space authority merger

The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission received a legislative update on Jan. 22 outlining bills the department is tracking and bills the agency requested for the 2025 legislative session.

Sandra opened the legislative briefing and noted filing deadlines and committee leadership changes; she identified newly assigned chairs and vice chairs in Senate and House committees that will oversee aviation- and general-government-related bills. Sandra said she will circulate tracked bills to the commission.

Director Artes reviewed agency-requested legislation. He described Senate Bill 135 as “our engine test cell program,” intended to add space-engine testing authority the agency has discussed previously. He said Senate Bill 920 is the department’s unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility (UAS/AAM) bill, which would expand the agency’s role as a clearinghouse for UAS/AAM activity and update the Airport Zoning Act in Title 3 to include vertiports and heliports.

Other proposals the director highlighted include Senate Bill 236, a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) tax incentive aimed at helping defense contractors comply with new requirements and attracting firms to operate in Oklahoma; Senate Bill 296, a simulator-instructor tax credit modeled on an existing engineer tax credit; and Senate Bill 287, an extension of aerospace engineer tax credits that are scheduled to sunset. He also described Senate Bill 730, which would codify the agency’s five-year airport construction program into Title 3.

One bill the director asked the commission to note is Senate Bill 912 by Senator Paul Racino. “That is essentially bringing or merging the Space Industry Development Authority into our organization,” the director said, and he described the bill as adding two designated “space” members to the agency’s commission while maintaining the Space Industry Development Authority as a Title 60 public trust. The director said initial review does not show negative impacts on the agency but would place additional responsibilities on the department if enacted.

The director said the agency will circulate the full list of aerospace-related bills and a tracking spreadsheet once it is compiled.

Clarifying details: the director identified bill sponsors where known (for example, SB 135 — Senator John Haste; SB 920 — Paul Racino; SB 236 — Senator John Haste; SB 296 and SB 287 — Adam Pugh). Staff said the agency will provide commissioners with the full bill texts and a spreadsheet of tracked measures. No commission vote was required on the update; staff asked commissioners to raise any concerns as bills circulate.