HB 1434: Aviation; air facilities; identification of airport affected areas; provide

Under current Georgia law, there is no statewide requirement that local governments identify and regulate land near airports where tall buildings or structures could interfere with aircraft. This bill adds a new article to Georgia's air facilities law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 3 of Title 6) to fix that. By January 1, 2027, every airport sponsor (a local government that owns, controls, or has set aside land for an airport) must identify its 'airport affected area,' the land, air, or water beneath federal flight approach and departure surfaces defined by federal aviation rules. By July 1, 2027, the local government with that area inside its borders must hold a public hearing and adopt regulations limiting building heights and other obstructions there. The Department of Transportation must help these governments make sure their rules meet federal aviation standards. Local governments that grant variances must first check with the airport sponsor. Governments that fail to adopt or enforce these rules lose access to state road grant funding for up to three years.

• Requires every airport sponsor in Georgia to identify its 'airport affected area' by January 1, 2027, and notify the local government covering that land.
• Requires the affected local government to hold a public hearing and adopt height and land use regulations for that area by July 1, 2027.
• Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to help local governments make sure their new rules match Federal Aviation Administration standards.
• Requires local governments to consult the airport sponsor before granting any variance that could create an obstruction near flight paths.
• Cuts off a local government's eligibility for state local road maintenance grant funding for up to three years if it fails to adopt or enforce these regulations.
• Allows the new airport area rules to be folded into a local government's existing zoning ordinance rather than kept as a separate system.

Counties, cities, and other local governments located near airports; airport owners and operators (airport sponsors); property owners whose land falls under flight approach and departure paths; and the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must assist with regulatory compliance.

Property owners near airports could face new limits on building height and construction. Local governments gain new administrative duties and a hard deadline, backed by the threat of losing state road grant money if they do not comply, which ties airport safety compliance directly to local infrastructure funding.

• Section 1 creates new Code Sections 6-3-40 through 6-3-44 defining terms like 'airport affected area,' 'airport obstruction,' and 'civil airport imaginary surface' by reference to federal aviation rules (14 C.F.R. Part 77) as of January 1, 2026.
• O.C.G.A. § 6-3-41 sets a January 1, 2027 deadline for airport sponsors to identify affected areas and a July 1, 2027 deadline for local governments to adopt regulations after public notice and hearing.
• O.C.G.A. § 6-3-42 requires the regulations to limit building and structure heights and requires the Department of Transportation to help ensure compliance with federal standards.
• O.C.G.A. § 6-3-43 allows the new rules to be incorporated into existing local zoning ordinances.
• O.C.G.A. § 6-3-44 requires airport sponsors to be consulted before variances that could create obstructions, and suspends a noncompliant local government's eligibility for local maintenance and improvement grant funds under O.C.G.A. § 32-5-27 for up to three years.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 457
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-04-02House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senado)
7. 2026-04-02Senate Third Read (Senado)
8. 2026-04-02Senate Taken from Table (Senado)

• David Jenkins (R, HD-136)Patrocinador principal
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes6 de marzo de 2026

   170 a favor, 0 en contra (2 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #668

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado31 de marzo de 2026

   39 a favor, 10 en contra (2 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #912

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado2 de abril de 2026

   52 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #950

4. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes2 de abril de 2026

   172 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #869

• airport safety
• land use regulation
• local government
• aviation law
• zoning