Bill
AB 100
Establishes the Nevada Office of Aerospace within DOT to promote intrastate air service, with a dedicated Aerospace Development Fund and grants/guarantees for rural airports.
Title: Revises provisions relating to economic development of regional commercial air service in this State (BDR 44‑140)
Summary
AB 100 establishes a statewide Office of Aerospace and associated governance and funding to promote aviation and intrastate air service in Nevada. The bill creates a Nevada Aerospace Development Fund (replacing/moving the Air Service Development Fund), authorizes targeted grants and revenue guarantees to attract or sustain air service, and provides state appropriations to support air‑service development and rural airport matching for FAA funds. It also tasks the Office with planning for advanced air mobility and several rural aviation support programs.
Key provisions and changes
- Creates the Office of Aerospace within the Nevada Department of Transportation (DOT). The Governor appoints a Director (unclassified; serves at pleasure of Governor).
- Duties of the Office include:
- Developing a statewide plan for advanced air mobility, airspace and airport/heliport/vertiport/spaceport infrastructure.
- Managing and supporting development of air service with emphasis on intrastate routes.
- Establishing automated weather observation at rural locations, a rural airport lighting/maintenance certification program, surplus equipment distribution, a statewide crew‑car network, and a comprehensive aviation support network.
- Creates the Nevada Aerospace Development Fund as a special revenue fund administered by the Office (money in the Fund does not revert to the General Fund; balance carries forward).
- Authorizes the Office to make grants to air carriers or governmental entities to establish or enhance service to eligible public‑use (NPIAS) airports. Grant tools include guarantees of agreed revenue per flight or guarantees tied to an agreed profit goal.
- Moves and renames the Nevada Air Service Development Commission to the Nevada Aerospace Commission and locates it within the Office; the Commission advises Governor and Office on priorities.
- Transfers administration of the existing Fund for Aviation to the Office of Aerospace and authorizes the Office to award matching grants to counties/cities/other local governments (rural airport focus).
- Requires annual reporting to the Legislature on applications, awards and expenditures.
Appropriations and fiscal details
- $10,000,000 appropriation from the State General Fund to the Nevada Aerospace Development Fund to study intrastate air service and support grants.
- $1,000,000 GF for FY 2025–26 and $1,000,000 GF for FY 2026–27 to the Fund for Aviation to be used by rural airports to match FAA funds.
- The Fund is structured to accept gifts/grants and to retain interest earnings.
Who is affected
- Air carriers (potential grant recipients / revenue guaranty beneficiaries).
- Rural and regional airports (eligible for grants, AWOS, crew cars, equipment).
- Nevada DOT (new Office of Aerospace and administrative responsibilities).
- Local governments that operate public‑use airports.
- Aviation industry stakeholders and the Nevada Aerospace Commission.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Prefiled/introduced January 2025; went through committee amendments.
- Assembly amendment added co‑sponsors and incorporated provisions from AB 293 (creation of Office of Aerospace).
- Final reprint (with amendments) reflects Office placed within DOT and funding provisions described above.
- Legislative record provided shows passage actions (Assembly and Senate) and Governor approval recorded April 14, 2025 (chaptered as Chapter 2, Statutes of 2025).
Support and stakeholder input
- Testimony and letters included from aviation stakeholders (Nevada Aviation Association, Reno‑Tahoe Airport Authority) and local governments (Elko County and City of Elko) endorsing the Office and funding for rural aviation development.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
