House Bill No. 730, introduced by Representative Crews, amends existing laws regarding the use of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) systems in Louisiana. The bill authorizes airport authorities to adopt regulations, set charges and fees, enforce payment, and impose penalties for violations, while ensuring that these powers are not used to discriminate against legitimate aviation interests. A significant addition is the prohibition against any person or entity using data from ADS-B systems to calculate, generate, or collect fees or taxes from aircraft owners or operators operating within the state.

The bill also provides definitions for "aircraft" and "automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast," clarifying the technology's role in aviation surveillance. Violations of the new provisions can result in fines of up to $500 for each occurrence. The bill retains existing law that specifies the provisions do not affect certain economic and industrial development regulations. Overall, the legislation aims to protect aircraft owners from potential misuse of surveillance data in fee assessments while allowing airport authorities to manage their operations effectively.

Statutes affected:
HB730 Original: 2:1(A)(2)
HB730 Engrossed: 2:1(A)(2)
HB730 Reengrossed: 2:1(A)(2)