SB 920: Aerospace infrastructure; requiring certain permit for construction within certain radius of a heliport or vertiport; granting Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics certain authority. Effective date. - Oklahoma

SB920 (3-24-25) (ROSINO) FA1.PDF → Floor (House) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a Senate committee version to a House floor version with substantive amendments. The primary change is the addition of new definitions for heliports and vertiports, expanding the scope of the Airport Zoning Act to include these newer aviation facilities. The bill also updates the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics' role as a clearinghouse for unmanned aircraft systems and grants it additional authority.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include heliports and vertiports alongside traditional airports, requiring permits for construction within specific radii of these facilities. The Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics gained additional regulatory authority over unmanned aircraft systems.

DEFINITION

Added definitions for heliport and vertiport to the statutory language, bringing these newer aviation facilities under the same zoning regulations as traditional airports.

REQUIREMENT

Established permit requirements for construction within a 1-nautical mile radius of heliports and vertiports, matching the requirements for smaller traditional airports.

Updated the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics' statutory role to include serving as a clearinghouse for unmanned aircraft systems and granting it additional regulatory authority.

TECHNICAL

Removed Senate-specific amendment language and formatting, replacing with House floor version formatting and standard legislative text.

Enrolled (final version) → SB920 (3-24-25) (ROSINO) FA1.PDF · 2 edits

MINOR

This amendment removes the original bill text and replaces it with a floor amendment form, indicating the bill was amended during Senate floor proceedings. The substantive policy content of the original bill regarding aerospace infrastructure and permit requirements appears to have been deleted or replaced by this procedural amendment document.

Scope change

The bill's scope cannot be determined from this document as it contains only a floor amendment form rather than the actual legislative text. The original bill content was removed.

TECHNICAL

All original bill text including definitions of aerospace terms, permit requirements for structures near airports/heliports, and authority grants to the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics were removed.

Added Senate floor amendment form indicating the bill was amended during floor proceedings on March 24, 2025, by Senator Rosino.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 3 edits · May 8, 2025

MINOR

The bill was finalized from its engrossed version with minor formatting adjustments, including adding a co-sponsor 'Hill' to the House sponsor list and adding a subject line. The substantive policy content, including definitions, permit requirements, and enforcement provisions for aerospace infrastructure, remained unchanged between versions.

TECHNICAL

Added 'Hill' as a co-sponsor alongside Miller in the House sponsor list.

Added a 'SUBJECT: Aerospace infrastructure' line to the enrolled version.

Minor formatting adjustments to spacing and line breaks throughout the document.

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 25, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Oklahoma's airport zoning laws to include new definitions for vertiports and VTOL aircraft, expands permit requirements for construction near heliports and vertiports, and adds new criteria for evaluating permit applications to better accommodate modern aviation infrastructure.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope from traditional airports and heliports to include vertiports and VTOL aircraft, reflecting the growing use of vertical takeoff and landing technology.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'VTOL aircraft' meaning aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capability, and updated 'Heliport' definition to include vertiports.

REQUIREMENT

Modified permit radius requirements to include a 1-nautical mile radius around heliports and vertiports, and added a new category for airports without instrument approaches that have runways over 3,200 feet.

Added new Section D criteria that local authorities must consider when evaluating permits, including federal airways, minimum descent altitude impacts, technological advances, ground and air safety, and land use density.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new Section E giving the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics authority to review and request modifications to structures built without permits since 1996.

Aerospace infrastructure; requiring certain permit for construction within certain radius of a heliport or vertiport; granting Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics certain authority. Effective date.

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