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Amendment to restrict FBO actions on certain detainees fails amid federal‑law concerns

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · March 22, 2026

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Summary

An amendment to bar fixed‑base operators (FBOs) from interfering with transport of passengers holding certain detainers was debated and failed on a roll call; committee members and the floor leader said the amendment was unnecessary and could raise federal‑preemption issues under 49 U.S.C. 47107.

On a special auto calendar the House considered House Bill 6‑39 (transportation and aviation passenger health and safety). A floor amendment would have expressly prohibited any fixed‑base operator (FBO) from interfering with the transport of a passenger who had an active detainer and prior convictions for certain serious offenses.

Proponents (speaker 21) said the amendment was narrowly targeted at "bad actors" and would ensure an FBO could not obstruct an enforceable transport. The floor leader (speaker 22) and the committee chair (speaker 51) countered that the bill as amended only asks aviation service companies to file reports and does not require them to act as enforcers; they argued the amendment was unnecessary, operationally unrealistic for small operators and could pose conflicts with federal airport‑funding obligations.

Delegate(s) raised a potential federal conflict, citing 49 U.S.C. 47107 and noting that airports that accept federal funding must comply with federal conditions, including not interfering with federal access. The clerk recorded the amendment's defeat after the roll call: 86 votes in the negative on the amendment.

Quote from the floor debate: "I'm gonna ask the body to reject the amendment...it's unnecessary. The bill as amended is only asking the FBOs...to do the reporting requirement." — Floor leader (speaker 22).

Next steps: the amendment failed; the bill was printed for third reading as amended by committee. Because federal‑funding and operational considerations were raised on the floor, sponsors and agencies may review compliance risks during implementation.