AB 431 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act.

Summary

Existing law, the State Aeronautics Act, governs various matters relative to aviation in the state, and authorizes the Department of Transportation to adopt, administer, and enforce rules and regulations for the administration of the act. This bill, the Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Act, would require the department, in coordination with specified agencies, to include advanced air mobility, as defined, in the next update to the California Transportation Plan prepared after January 1, 2027, and to establish a statewide working group to facilitate ongoing collaboration to explore California's role as a leader in the development and implementation of advanced air mobility, as specified. The bill would prohibit its provisions from being construed to (1) interfere with or suspend the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration or any other federal department or agency, or state zoning laws or regulations, as specified, or (2) limit or interfere with the jurisdiction, authority, rights, or responsibilities of any airport sponsor or operator, as specified.

Issues: ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Aug 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Aug 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

08/26/26 - Enrolled → AB431 · 1 edit

MINOR

No substantive policy changes occurred between these two versions. The diff reflects a transition from the formal enrolled document (with official headers, clerk signatures, and approval lines) to a web-based rendering of the same bill text on the California Legislature website. All statutory provisions, definitions, requirements, and scope remain identical.

TECHNICAL

The document changed from a formal enrolled bill format (with Assembly/Senate passage dates, clerk signatures, governor receipt line, and approval block) to a web page layout with navigation menus, version history links, status indicators, and share buttons. The underlying statutory text of Sections 1 and 2 (including subsections 21720 through 21724) is unchanged.

05/27/26 - Amended Senate → 08/26/26 - Enrolled · 7 edits · Aug 26, 2026

MODERATE

The enrolled version of AB 431 significantly narrows the bill's requirements compared to the Senate-amended version. Four specific departmental obligations were removed (developing a statewide aviation plan for vertiports, designating a subject matter expert, leading an education campaign, and providing uniform zoning guidance), leaving only two actions: including advanced air mobility in the next California Transportation Plan update after January 1, 2027, and establishing a multi-agency statewide working group. The bill also dropped its findings that it addresses a matter of statewide concern applicable to charter cities and its no-reimbursement provision.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the department to develop or update a statewide aviation plan to include vertiports, electric aviation charging, and other aviation technology infrastructure needs.

Removed the requirement to designate a subject matter expert for advanced air mobility within the department as a resource for local and regional jurisdictions.

Removed the requirement to lead a statewide education campaign for local and regional decisionmakers on the benefits of electric powered-lift aircraft and aviation technology advancements.

Removed the requirement to provide local and regional jurisdictions with guidance, best practices, and technical resources to support uniform planning and zoning language related to powered-lift aircraft and electric aviation.

SCOPE

Removed Section 3, which found that the bill addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and therefore applies to all cities including charter cities.

The bill's operative requirements were narrowed from four distinct departmental actions (aviation plan, expert designation, education campaign, zoning guidance) to two coordination-focused actions (CTP inclusion and a statewide working group), shifting the bill from an implementation-oriented framework to a planning-and-collaboration framework.

FISCAL

Removed Section 4, which provided that no reimbursement is required under Article XIII B of the California Constitution because costs would only be incurred through changes to crimes or infractions.

04/30/25 - Amended Assembly → 05/27/26 - Amended Senate · 6 edits · May 27, 2026

MODERATE

The Senate amendment removes the bill's preemption of local government authority over advanced air mobility (which had prohibited cities and counties from enacting laws or ordinances related to AAM aircraft) and replaces it with a collaborative approach requiring state-level planning integration and a multi-agency working group. The definition of 'powered-lift aircraft' is simplified to incorporate the federal regulatory definition by reference rather than restating it. This represents a significant shift from a top-down regulatory model to one that preserves local authority while building state coordination.

SCOPE

Removed the provision prohibiting political subdivisions (cities, counties) from enacting laws, ordinances, or rules relating to advanced air mobility, ownership of AAM aircraft, or aerial operation of AAM aircraft. This had been the bill's most controversial element as it preempted local control over AAM operations.

Removed the supersession clause that would have voided any existing local laws, ordinances, or rules enacted before July 1, 2025 relating to advanced air mobility.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the California Public Utilities Commission, in coordination with the Transportation Agency, to include advanced air mobility in the next update to the California Transportation Plan prepared after January 1, 2027.

Added a requirement to establish a statewide working group involving the Transportation Agency, Energy Commission, State Air Resources Board, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, and the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, along with local emergency management offices and industry stakeholders, to explore California's role in AAM development and economic opportunity.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'powered-lift aircraft' was changed from a full restatement of the characteristics (heavier-than-air, vertical takeoff/landing capability, engine-driven lift devices) to a simple incorporation by reference of the federal definition in 14 CFR Part 1.

TECHNICAL

The state-mandated local program designation was changed from 'yes' to 'no,' likely correcting an error since the bill no longer imposes mandates on local agencies after removing the preemption provision.

02/05/25 - Introduced → 04/30/25 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

The amended version of AB 431 adds a new savings clause (Section 21724) that clarifies the bill's preemption of local advanced air mobility regulations does not override federal aviation authority, state zoning laws, or airport sponsor/operator rights. It also aligns the definition of 'powered-lift aircraft' with the federal FAA definition and adds two coauthors. These changes narrow the practical reach of the preemption provision by carving out important exceptions.

Scope change

The preemption provision (Section 21724(a)) that prohibits local governments from enacting laws relating to advanced air mobility is now explicitly limited by a new savings clause. Local zoning authority over land use, development, and facility construction is preserved, federal aviation regulatory authority is untouched, and airport sponsors/operators retain full jurisdiction over their airports. This significantly narrows the practical scope of the preemption compared to the introduced version.

SCOPE

New Section 21724 adds a savings clause stating the chapter shall not be construed to interfere with or suspend (1) FAA authority or any other federal department or agency, including federal authority over airspace governance, air traffic control, aviation safety, and regulations governing airport operation or air transportation, or (2) state zoning laws or regulations related to land use, development, or construction of facilities within local zoning jurisdiction.

New Section 21724(b) adds a provision stating the chapter shall not be construed to limit or interfere with the jurisdiction, authority, rights, or responsibilities of any airport sponsor or airport operator with respect to operation, maintenance, management, or capital development of any airport in the state.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'powered-lift aircraft' in Section 21721(d) was changed from a standalone state definition to one that incorporates the federal definition by reference to Part 1 of Subchapter A of Chapter I of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (the FAA's definition).

REQUIREMENT

Section 21723(d) was modified to add 'guidance, including best practices' alongside the existing 'guidebook and technical resources' that the department must provide to local and regional jurisdictions for uniform planning and zoning language.

TECHNICAL

Assembly Members Davies and Harabedian were added as coauthors of the bill.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 20, 2026 · Assembly Jun 2, 2025

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Aug 20, 2026

D Democratic30

29 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican10

10 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).

lower

Aug 20, 2026

Introduced

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

lower

Aug 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

upper

Jun 22, 2026

Committee

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

upper

Jun 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

May 27, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

upper

Jul 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on TRANS.

upper

Jun 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1828.)

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

lower

May 14, 2025

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

lower

May 1, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 28).

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on TRANS.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 8.

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors