AB 431: 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. department, in coordination with specified agencies, to include advanced air mobility, as defined, in the next update to the California Transportation Plan prepared after January 1, 2027, and to establish a statewide working group to facilitate ongoing collaboration to explore Californias role as a leader in the development and implementation of advanced air mobility, as specified. The bill would prohibit its provisions from being construed to (1) interfere with or suspend the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration or any other federal department or agency, or state zoning laws or regulations, as specified, or (2) limit or interfere with the jurisdiction, authority, rights, or responsibilities of any airport sponsor or operator, as specified.