SB 1531 establishes the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics as a state clearinghouse for drone (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) technology. The bill authorizes the department to coordinate drone/AAM infrastructure development by maintaining registries for state agency drones and training programs, planning vertiport sites, creating detection systems, and partnering with cities, counties, and federal agencies. It directly affects state agencies using drones, educational institutions offering drone training, and local governments developing drone infrastructure. The law aims to streamline Oklahoma’s integration of drone/AAM technology into aviation systems through centralized planning and state-led coordination.
HB 4108 amends Oklahoma law to explicitly include airport operational areas - such as runways, taxiways, maintenance zones, and fuel storage areas - under the definition of "critical infrastructure facility." This means unauthorized entry or damage to these areas will now be treated as criminal offenses, subject to fines (up to $100,000) or imprisonment (up to 10 years), similar to protections for power plants or water facilities. The bill does not fund new infrastructure but expands legal safeguards for airport safety and operations. It directly affects airport operators, security personnel, and anyone entering airport grounds without authorization. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 66 creates a $10 million revolving fund specifically for airport improvements at regional airports located east of U.S. Highway 69, south of U.S. Highway 70, and within Oklahoma municipalities with populations between 10,000 and 20,000 people. The fund requires matching contributions of $10 million from local, county, tribal, federal, or private sources before state funds can be used for repairs, upgrades, or air traffic control towers at eligible airports. The state appropriates $10 million from the General Revenue Fund to the revolving fund, with unspent funds reverting to the General Revenue Fund by July 1, 2027, if no spending decisions are made. This bill directly affects smaller regional airports in southeastern Oklahoma meeting the specified population and geographic criteria.
SB 920 requires developers to obtain a permit from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics before constructing buildings within a specified radius of existing or planned heliports or vertiports. This law directly affects property owners, developers, and construction companies planning projects near these aviation facilities. The key provision mandates that the state agency review and approve construction near such sites to ensure safety and compatibility with aerospace infrastructure. The bill became law on May 15, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
HB 2266 updates Oklahoma's aerospace regulations by clarifying key terms (like "vertiport" for drone air taxi hubs and "VTOL aircraft") and revising permit requirements for structures near airports. It modifies the radius zones requiring permits based on airport type (public, military, heliport) and runway length, while adding new safety considerations for permit decisions. The bill also designates the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics as the state's official clearinghouse for drone (UAS) and advanced air mobility (eVTOL) operations. These changes directly affect developers, property owners, and airport authorities in areas near aviation facilities. The bill is currently pending in the Aeronautics and Transportation committee.
SB 730 requires Oklahoma's Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to develop a five-year Airport Construction Program and a statewide airport system plan, which will guide funding for airport infrastructure. The system plan must include all airports eligible for state funding and prioritize safety, economic growth, and FAA standards. It also updates the AeroSPACE Program, a partnership between schools and the aviation industry to create aerospace career pathways for students. These changes directly affect public airports seeking state funding and educational institutions participating in the workforce development initiative.
