SB 298 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to roadable aircraft on WV highways

SB 298 establishes new rules for "roadable aircraft" (vehicles that operate as both cars and aircraft) in West Virginia. It requires special registration plates with an annual fee, classifies them as motor vehicles for traffic laws and taxation (but excludes them from property tax adjustments), and prohibits takeoffs/landings on highways except in emergencies. The bill exempts operators from motorcycle licensing/exams and helmet requirements if riding in a fully enclosed vehicle, while also removing vehicle inspection requirements under specific conditions. These provisions directly affect roadable aircraft owners, the Division of Motor Vehicles (which manages registration), and highway safety regulations.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill introduces new regulations for roadable aircraft (vehicles that can fly and drive on roads) in West Virginia. It establishes them as motor vehicles for registration and taxation purposes, creates a special registration plate system with a $15 annual fee, and provides exemptions from motorcycle licensing exams and helmet requirements for fully enclosed roadable aircraft operators.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of West Virginia's motor vehicle laws to include roadable aircraft, treating them as motor vehicles when operated on highways while providing specific exemptions for certain operations.

DEFINITION

Added new definition of 'roadable aircraft' as any aircraft capable of taking off and landing that is also a motor vehicle designed to be driven on a highway.

REQUIREMENT

Requires special registration plates for roadable aircraft with a $15 annual fee in addition to other registration fees.

Establishes roadable aircraft as Class E vehicles for registration purposes with a $60 annual registration fee.

Exempts operators and passengers of fully enclosed roadable aircraft from motorcycle helmet requirements.

Prohibits roadable aircraft from taking off from or landing on highways except in emergencies.

Exempts roadable aircraft from standard vehicle inspection if they meet federal aircraft maintenance and inspection requirements under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

ELIGIBILITY

Exempts operators of fully enclosed roadable aircraft from motorcycle examination, licensing, and endorsement requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Allows roadable aircraft registration plates to be kept inside the vehicle if the N-Number is clearly visible from the rear.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

To Finance

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors