CaliforniaCalifornia plans for electric aircraft and studies their role
California transportation officials must include electric aircraft in a future state plan and form a group to explore their role in travel and jobs.
What it does
The Department of Transportation, working with the Transportation Agency, must include electric aircraft used for urban or regional travel in the next California Transportation Plan update.
State agencies, local emergency offices, and industry stakeholders must work together to explore California’s role in electric aircraft and related technology and economic development, including job creation.
The chapter does not change federal control of aviation, local zoning authority, or airport sponsors’ and operators’ powers and duties.
Argument forIncluding electric aircraft in transportation planning and bringing agencies and industry together could help California weigh future travel options and related jobs.
Argument againstState agencies and local emergency offices may spend time coordinating around a still-developing aircraft industry, while the law does not require specific projects or services.
More detail
The Department of Transportation must include advanced air mobility in the plan update. The requirement covers advanced air mobility: an air transportation system primarily using electric aircraft to carry passengers, cargo, or provide services in urban or regional areas, with a gross takeoff weight of at least 300 pounds. The requirement applies to the next plan update prepared after January 1, 2027.
The Department of Transportation must establish a statewide working group. The group must bring together state agencies, local emergency management offices, and industry stakeholders, with specified state agencies coordinating its creation. The law requires ongoing collaboration but gives no start date or end date.
The chapter must not be read to interfere with specified federal, local, or airport powers. This protection applies to federal agencies, local zoning authorities, and airport sponsors and operators in California.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 503, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 28Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 24Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6398.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 431 Wilson Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 20In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded Special Consent AB431 Wilson et al. By Caballero. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 20Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5587.).Passed Senate
- Aug 18Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Jun 22In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 9From 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.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- May 27From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Major
- 2025
- Jul 8In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Jun 11Referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Jun 3In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Jun 2Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1828.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 431 Wilson Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.Minor
- May 1Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 30Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 29From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 28).Major
- Apr 28
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 18Referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Feb 6From printer. May be heard in committee March 8.
- Feb 5Read first time. To print.Introduced
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