H.B. 185 - Airspace Protection Act Summary

• Establishes comprehensive regulations for structures and objects that could obstruct navigable airspace, requiring Department of Transportation permits before installation in airport clear zones, horizontal surfaces, conical surfaces, primary surfaces, approach surfaces, or transitional surfaces.

• Creates the Office of Aviation within the Department of Transportation to administer airspace protection standards based on Federal Aviation Administration regulations (14 C.F.R. Part 77) and to review permit applications with 90-day decision deadlines after FAA determinations.

• Replaces existing airport zoning board requirements with a unified state permit system, while allowing local airport zoning boards to adopt minimum state obstruction standards for public-use airports.

• Provides liability protections for the Department of Transportation and Office of Aviation from damages caused by obstructions installed without permits, in non-compliance with permits, or through power siting board certificates or airport zoning board permits.

• Defines "navigable airspace" as airspace at and above minimum flight altitudes needed for safe takeoff and landing, and expands definitions to include new facility types such as vertiports and spaceports.