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AB 293

Creates the Office of Aerospace. (BDR 18-782)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Reuben D'Silva and 1 co-sponsor

Creates the Office of Aerospace to plan, fund, and expand Nevada aviation and aerospace activities, including grants, infrastructure, and rural air service.

(Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.)
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Bill Summary · AB 293

AB 293 — Creates the Office of Aerospace (BDR 18‑782) — Summary

Status: Approved by the Governor (Chapter 359, Statutes of 2025). Enrolled 9/9/2025; Governor approved 10/6/2025.

Purpose
- Establish a new state Office of Aerospace to centralize and expand Nevada’s aviation and aerospace planning, development, and grant administration. The Office is intended to promote air service (especially intrastate and rural service), advanced air mobility, airport infrastructure, and statewide aviation support systems.

Key provisions
- Creation of the Office of Aerospace (Sec. 6)
- Governor appoints a Director who serves at the Governor’s pleasure (unclassified service).
- Director may adopt regulations to implement the statute.

  • Duties of the Office (Sec. 7)

    • Develop a statewide plan for advanced air mobility airspace and airport infrastructure (with stakeholder input).
    • Manage and support development and expansion of air service in Nevada, with emphasis on intrastate and rural connectivity.
    • Expand state planning to highlight economic impacts of airports and aviation.
    • Create an automated weather observation system.
    • Establish a certification program for airport lighting and maintenance.
    • Develop a surplus property distribution program to benefit airports.
    • Implement a statewide network of crew cars to support rural airports.
    • Establish a comprehensive aviation support network across the State.

  • Nevada Aerospace Development Fund (formerly Nevada Air Service Development Fund) (Sec. 8 & related)

    • Created as a special revenue fund in the State Treasury.
    • Director administers the Fund; may accept gifts, grants, appropriations, donations.
    • Money in the Fund is invested like other state funds; interest credited to the Fund.
    • Director may make grants from the Fund to qualifying air carriers (program details in Sec. 9).

  • Grants program for air service (Sec. 9, summary)

    • Office to develop grant program to provide financial support to air carriers or governmental entities to establish or enhance air service to public-use (NPIAS) airports.
    • Application elements include identification of the airport/route, carrier commitments (to enter an agreement providing for service in exchange for financial guarantees), and letters of support from participating airports.
    • Additional eligibility, award conditions, and procedures are established in the code and by the Office.

  • Nevada Aerospace Commission (formerly Nevada Air Service Development Commission) (Sec. 10 & 19)

    • Commission is moved into the Office of Aerospace, renamed Nevada Aerospace Commission.
    • Commission advises the Governor and Office on aerospace development priorities.

  • Fund for Aviation administration (Sec. 12)

    • Administration of the existing Fund for Aviation (previously under Department of Transportation) is moved to the Office; Director may award matching grants to local governments for aviation projects.

  • Reporting

    • Office required to submit an annual report to the Legislature (or Legislative Commission) detailing grants awarded from the Nevada Aerospace Development Fund and the Fund for Aviation for the preceding calendar year.

Who is affected
- State: new executive Office and Director position; reallocation of responsibilities and funds previously housed in other agencies.
- Air carriers: eligible to apply for grants to establish or expand routes.
- Airports (especially rural, NPIAS public airports): potential recipients of increased support (grants, surplus property, crew car network).
- Local governments: potential recipients of Fund for Aviation matching grants.
- Nevada Aerospace Commission: reconstituted role advising the Office.

Fiscal and procedural notes
- Fiscal note indicates state fiscal impact (effect on State: Yes); no effect on local government noted in summary.
- Director has authority to accept non‑state funds and to administer special revenue funds; investment and expenditure procedures align with normal state practices.
- Governor approved the bill and it was chaptered as law on 10/6/2025.

Additional note on provided materials
- The legislative packet also included text for a different AB 293 addressing groundwater sustainability agency transparency (adding Water Code §10724.2). That text appears unrelated to the Office of Aerospace measure and likely reflects an unrelated bill or a document inclusion error. The summary above describes the Office of Aerospace legislation (BDR 18‑782) that was enacted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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