Summary — SJR 66 (2025): Air Mobility and Aviation Economic Development Task Force
Status: Joint resolution introduced Mar 6, 2025; passed Senate (33–0) Mar 7, 2025; received in House Mar 7, 2025; referred to Committee on Committees (H); read in House Mar 10, 2025 and referred to Finance.
Purpose
SJR 66 creates an interim Legislative Research Commission (LRC) task force to study opportunities and policy actions for promoting aviation- and advanced air mobility‑related economic development in Kentucky. The resolution frames aviation as a major economic driver for the Commonwealth and directs a focused review of emerging technologies (e.g., electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems) and supportive infrastructure and policy.
Key provisions
- Establishes the "Air Mobility and Aviation Economic Development Task Force" under the LRC.
- Directs the task force to study and recommend actions on:
- Innovations in aviation—especially advanced air mobility (AAM)—and their implications for Kentucky’s short‑ and long‑term mobility needs.
- Policies and programs other states use to support AAM industry development.
- Kentucky’s strengths, challenges, and trends for attracting aviation/aerospace economic development.
- State actions and policies to support aviation growth and related economic development.
- Membership (subject to LRC approval) includes 16 members:
- 4 Senate members (appointed by the Senate President; one designated co‑chair)
- 4 House members (appointed by the Speaker; one designated co‑chair)
- 1 Senate appointee by the Senate Minority Leader
- 1 House appointee by the House Minority Leader
- Commissioner of the Department of Aviation
- 1 representative of commercial airports (jointly appointed by Speaker and Senate President)
- 1 representative of public‑use/general aviation airports (jointly appointed)
- 3 industry representatives (jointly appointed)
- Timeline: task force to meet as needed during the 2025 Interim; submit findings and recommendations to the LRC by December 1, 2025.
- LRC retains authority to reassign the study to an interim joint committee or subcommittee and to set an alternate completion date.
Background and context
The resolution cites Kentucky’s aviation economic footprint (Kentucky Transportation Center study): $23.7 billion total economic output, over $1 billion in state/local tax revenue, and support for over 116,000 jobs producing about $8 billion in personal income. It highlights major cargo hubs (UPS, DHL, Amazon) and two large cargo airports (Louisville Muhammad Ali International and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International).
Potential impact
As a study and recommendation vehicle (not a law-making provision), the task force could shape future legislative or executive actions, including regulatory frameworks, infrastructure investments (e.g., vertiports, charging stations, air traffic management), workforce development, and economic development incentives to attract AAM and broader aviation industry activity to Kentucky.
