Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed HB 730 into law, joining the growing number of states moving to stop the use of ADS-B to collect fees from pilots.
HB 730, which goes into effect Aug. 1, 2026, prohibits the use of ADS-B data to charge fees to pilots flying aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds under Part 91 (non-commercial operations). It passed the Louisiana Senate unanimously, and passed the House on a 91-8 vote.
While more states are considering related legislation, aviation advocates are pursuing a national policy to avoid a patchwork of laws across the country, according to officials with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
The nation’s top two transportation and aviation safety officials, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, have both testified before Congress that ADS-B should only be used for aviation safety and not to collect fees
Legislation to address last year’s mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., which was overwhelmingly approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in April, would, among other things, prohibit any person, government agency, or other entity from using ADS-B to identify aircraft for the purpose of collecting revenue from pilots without their consent.
“Some have tried to paint this as a way to not collect property taxes or fees imposed by airports — those assertions are flat-out false,” said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon. “Pilots were given assurances when the federal government required ADS-B that it would only be used for aviation safety and airspace efficiency. That assurance is not being kept.”
“The bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives does nothing to stop airports, local and state governments, or any other entity from charging or collecting fees and taxes — it just takes away the ability for tax collectors and airports to exploit a safety technology for their economic gain,” said Coon. “General aviation pilots already pay fuel taxes and fees to help offset the costs of safety infrastructure and operations at many public-use airports today, and they will continue to do so when this becomes law — they just would not be able to use a safety technology that saves lives for economic purposes. Airports and governments have other means to collect what they’re owed.”
“In fact, according to the Tax Foundation, tax assessors collect more than $3 trillion each year in local and state taxes, including property taxes — and that is without using ADS-B,” he continued. “If this practice continues unchecked, it will discourage pilots from equipping their aircraft with this safety technology.”
Similar bills have been passed in Montana, Florida, and New York, and are being considered by other states.
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