PennsylvaniaPennsylvania may negotiate agreements for unmanned aircraft research and training
Pennsylvania transportation officials may negotiate unmanned aircraft agreements with federal agencies or education partners, but the Governor must approve each agreement before it takes effect.
What it does
Pennsylvania transportation officials may negotiate agreements with federally recognized agencies or education partners for unmanned aircraft research, testing, deployment, training, or education. Each agreement needs the Governor’s approval to take effect.
Agreements may operate in two counties identified by their class and population, or in any other Pennsylvania county the department approves.
After the Governor approves an agreement, the department must approve at least one entity to manage the related work. The entity must be near a Pennsylvania airport or be an education partner offering aviation courses.
Aircraft operating under these agreements must be run by an agreement party or someone the party or department authorizes. They must have permission to operate and follow applicable federal, state, and local rules.
The department may issue temporary rules to carry out the subchapter, subject to time limits. It must also send notice of each effective agreement for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Argument forThese agreements could give Pennsylvania officials and education partners a way to work with federal aviation partners on aircraft research, testing, and training.
Argument againstThe location and operator rules could make it harder for communities outside the listed counties or groups that lack an approved partner to take part.
More detail
The Department of Transportation may negotiate interstate agreements with federal aviation agencies or education partners. Education partners include Pennsylvania schools and colleges. Agreements may cover research, testing, deployment, training, or education involving unmanned aircraft. The Governor must approve each agreement before it takes effect. An agreement takes effect when the Governor approves it.
Each agreement must operate in the specified counties or another county approved by the department. The specified counties are a fourth-class county with 133,000 to 134,000 people and a sixth-class county with 74,000 to 75,000 people. The two specified counties are defined by county class and population ranges in the most recent federal census.
After an agreement is approved, the department shall approve at least one entity to manage the covered work. The entity would manage research, testing, deployment, training, education, or use of unmanned aircraft on the department’s behalf. The entity must be on or near a Pennsylvania airport, or be an education partner that offers aviation courses. The department’s approval duty applies after the Governor approves an agreement.
Aircraft operating under an agreement must be operated by an agreement party or an authorized operator and follow applicable law. This rule applies to unmanned aircraft operating in Pennsylvania under the subchapter. The aircraft must be authorized to operate and comply with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines.
The department may issue temporary rules and must send effective agreements for publication. The department must send notice of each effective agreement to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next available Pennsylvania Bulletin. Temporary rules expire within three years after publication or when final rules are issued, whichever comes first. The department’s authority to issue temporary rules expires three years after the relevant paragraph takes effect. The act would take effect 60 days after enactment. The temporary-rule limits run from publication or the paragraph’s effective date, as specified.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 8Act No. 56 of 2026Latest
- Oct 8Approved by the Governor Josh ShapiroBecame Law
- Oct 8Presented to the GovernorTo Governor
- Oct 7Signed in House
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 7Signed in Senate
- Oct 7Senate concurred in House amendments
- Oct 5Re-reported on concurrence, as committedMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Rules & Executive Nominations): Re-Reported as Committed. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 5Referred to Rules & Executive NominationsMinor
- Sep 30Third consideration and final passagePassed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-report Bill As Committed. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 30Re-reported as committedMinor
- Sep 29Re-referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded A4351. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 29Second consideration, with amendmentsMinor
- Sep 28Removed from table
- Feb 3Laid on the table
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Transportation): Report Bill As Committed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3First considerationMinor
- Feb 3Reported as committedMinor
- 2025
- Jun 24Referred to TransportationMinor
- Jun 23Third consideration and final passagePassed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Re-reported as committedMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-Reported as Committed. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 9Re-referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Jun 9Second considerationMinor
- Jun 4First considerationMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Transportation): Reported as Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Transportation): Adopt Amendment A00835. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 4Reported as amendedMajor
- Mar 18Referred to TransportationIntroduced
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