ARIZONA STATE SENATE

KAYTIE SHERMAN

ASSISTANT RESEARCH ANALYST

LIAM MAHER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 20, 2026

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1826, relating to advanced air mobility

Purpose

            Conditional on the enactment of S.B. 1827, appropriates $500,000 from the Advanced Air Mobility Fund (Fund) in FY 2027 to the Office of Advanced Air Mobility for operation and support.

Background

Laws 2025, Chapter 185 requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), beginning September 1, 2026, to develop or upgrade the statewide aviation plan for advanced air mobility infrastructure in consultation with the political subdivisions of Arizona that own or control a public airport, commercial air carriers, the Federal Aviation Administration and any other relevant stakeholders. A political subdivision may establish the location of public and private vertiports, electric aircraft charging stations and the infrastructure needs of advanced air mobility in accordance with federal law (A.R.S. § 28-8602).

Laws 2025, Chapter 248 establishes the Fund for constructing vertiports and purchasing advanced air mobility vehicles that can carry passengers or cargo for testing and demonstration purposes of the ability to use the advanced air mobility vehicles. Before any expenditure is made from the Fund, the State Treasurer and ADOT must submit an expenditure plan to the Joint Committee on Capital Review (A.R.S. § 28-8604).

Advanced air mobility is an air transportation system that primarily uses an electric aircraft, including eCTOL, eVTOL and powered lift aircrafts, to carry passengers or cargo in urban or regional areas (A.R.S. § 28-8601).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $500,000 from the Fund in FY 2027 to the Office of Advanced Air Mobility for operation and support.

2. Conditions the enactment of this legislation on the enactment of S.B. 1827, Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session.

3. Becomes effective on the general effective date, subject to the provisions of the conditional enactment.