HB 3134 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to advanced air mobility.

HB 3134 establishes a regulatory framework for "advanced air mobility" in Texas, primarily affecting electric aircraft and vertiports (landing/takeoff sites for air taxis). The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to create an office for technical support, develop a statewide strategic plan, identify uniform planning standards for vertiports, estimate electric grid capacity needs, and provide guidebooks to local governments. It specifically applies to aircraft over 300 pounds capable of carrying passengers or cargo, focusing on electric vertical takeoff aircraft and urban air mobility infrastructure. The law aims to enable future air taxi services by standardizing planning and infrastructure requirements across the state.

Issues: ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · May 10, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from an introduced draft to an engrossed version with substantive policy changes. Key modifications include expanding the definition of advanced air mobility to include hybrid aircraft, adding new requirements for the department to consult with federal agencies and stakeholders, and restructuring the strategic planning requirements to prioritize public safety and airspace efficiency. A new section was added to repeal an existing related section, and the effective date was set to September 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include hybrid aircraft in the definition of advanced air mobility and added requirements for collaboration with federal transportation agencies and commercial air carriers.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of advanced air mobility from 'electric aircraft' to 'electric or hybrid aircraft' to broaden the scope of covered technology.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirement for the department to consult with the US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, commercial air carriers, and political subdivisions when implementing the program.

Added new subsection requiring the office established under the bill to establish working relationships with federal agencies, commercial carriers, and airport operators.

Modified the statewide strategic plan requirements to prioritize public safety and airspace efficiency as the first consideration, with economic impact as a secondary goal.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new restriction preventing political subdivisions from enacting regulations related to advanced air mobility unless they are airport operators, removing previous exceptions for airport operations within airport boundaries.

TIMELINE

Added effective date of September 1, 2025, and repealed an existing related section of the Transportation Code.

Floor votes · House May 9, 2025

How they voted

113–23

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 142

May 9, 2025

D Democratic57

54 Yea 3

94% Yea

R Republican85

59 Yea 23 Nay 3

69% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Transportation

upper

May 13, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Transportation

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

4 primary · 37 co-sponsors