House Bill No. 715, introduced by Representative Deshotel, amends existing law to require aerial applicators to operate federally compliant transponders and two-way radios when using publicly owned airports or participating in airport priority programs. The bill prohibits political subdivisions from discriminating against licensed aerial applicators and mandates that these applicators comply with safety regulations set by airport authorities and the Department of Transportation and Development. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry is tasked with inspecting and monitoring the use of these facilities to ensure compliance and safety, with the authority to suspend violators from airport use.

The proposed law also specifies that aerial applicators must follow standard traffic patterns at non-towered airports unless safety or operational conditions necessitate deviation. Furthermore, it prohibits any airport authority or political subdivision from using data from aircraft transponders to assess fees or enforce local ordinances unrelated to safety. This legislation aims to enhance public safety and coordination of airport operations while ensuring fair access for licensed aerial applicators.

Statutes affected:
HB715 Original: 2:3(A)
HB715 Engrossed: 2:3(S
HB715 Reengrossed: 2:3(S