The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 236, aims to implement the recommendations of the Connecticut Airport Authority concerning the licensure and registration of airports and other air navigation facilities. Key changes include the repeal of Section 13b-46 and its replacement with new provisions that establish a framework for the approval, licensing, and registration of airports, heliports, vertiports, and restricted landing areas. The bill stipulates that any facility expecting more than thirty-six landings and takeoffs annually must be licensed by the executive director, who will charge a fee of three hundred dollars for each license or renewal. Conversely, facilities with thirty-six or fewer landings and takeoffs must be registered, with a fee of one hundred dollars for registration or renewal. Municipalities are exempt from these fees.

Additionally, the bill introduces new compliance requirements, mandating that all licensed or registered facilities adhere to applicable federal, state, and local laws. It also establishes penalties for operating unlicensed or unregistered facilities, classifying such violations as a class C misdemeanor. The legislation further allows the executive director to require property owners to maintain records of landings and takeoffs if complaints are received regarding unlicensed operations. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026.

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Raised Bill: