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SB1549 • 2026

ultralight vehicles; definition

SB1549 - ultralight vehicles; definition

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
David C. Farnsworth
Last action
2026-06-19
Official status
Governor vetoed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status is 'Vetoed' with no override mentioned; therefore, these definitions are not currently active law.

SB1549: Defining Ultralight Vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility

This bill proposes to update Arizona law by defining ultralight vehicles, advanced air mobility systems, and related aircraft types.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a definition for 'advanced air mobility' as an electric transportation system used in urban or regional areas.
  • Defines specific terms including eCTOL, eVTOL, powered lift aircraft, vertiport, and ultralight vehicle.
  • Sets rules that define what counts as an ultralight vehicle based on weight, speed, fuel limits, and occupancy.
  • States that ultralight vehicles must be used by a single occupant.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who operate or intend to use aircraft defined under these new terms in Arizona
  • Agencies managing transportation rules under Title 28

Terms To Know

Advanced air mobility
An air transport system that primarily uses electric aircraft to carry passengers or cargo in urban or regional areas.
eVTOL
An electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Ultralight vehicle
A single-occupant vehicle without an airworthiness certificate that meets specific weight, fuel capacity, and speed limits depending on whether it is powered or unpowered.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The governor vetoed this bill, so it did not become law unless lawmakers overrode the veto.
  • It is unknown if lawmakers will override the veto to make these definitions official.
  • There is no effective date because the bill was vetoed.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-12 V

    Governor vetoed

  2. 2026-06-11 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  3. 2026-06-11 House

    House third read passed

  4. 2026-04-13 House

    House committee of the whole

  5. 2026-03-31 House

    House minority caucus

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    House majority caucus

  7. 2026-03-30 House

    House consent calendar

  8. 2026-03-18 House

    House second read

  9. 2026-03-17 House

    House Rules: C&P

  10. 2026-03-17 House

    House Transportation & Infrastructure: DP

  11. 2026-03-17 House

    House first read

  12. 2026-03-09 House

    Transmitted to House

  13. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  14. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate committee of the whole

  15. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  16. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  17. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Senate consent calendar

  18. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Senate second read

  19. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  20. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: DP

  21. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1549 - ultralight vehicles; definition

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB1549 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

ultralight vehicles;
definition

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1549

AN
ACT

Amending section 28-8601, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to advanced air mobility.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 28-8601, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
28-8601.

Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Advanced air mobility" means an air
transportation system that primarily uses an electric aircraft, including
an
eCTOL, eVTOL
, ultralight vehicle
and
powered lift aircraft, to carry passengers or cargo in an urban or a regional
area.

2. "eCTOL" means an electric conventional
takeoff and landing aircraft.

3. "eVTOL" means an electric vertical
takeoff and landing aircraft.

4. "Powered lift aircraft" means a
heavier-than-air aircraft that is capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing
and low-speed flight and that primarily uses engine-driven lift devices or
engine thrust for lifting the aircraft during a takeoff and at least one
nonrotating airfoil for lifting the aircraft during horizontal flight.

5. "Ultralight vehicle"
means a vehicle that meets all of the following requirements:

(
a
) Is used or
intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant.

(
b
) Does not
have a United States or foreign airworthiness certificate.

(
c
) If
unpowered, weighs less than one hundred fifty-five pounds.

(
d
) If powered:

(
i
) Weighs less
than two hundred fifty-four pounds empty weight, excluding floats and
safety devices that are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic
situation.

(
ii
) Has a fuel
capacity of not more than five gallons.

(
iii
) Does not
exceed more than fifty-five knots calibrated airspeed at full power in
level flight.

(
iv
) Has a
power-off stall speed of not more than twenty-four knots calibrated
airspeed.

5.

6.
"Vertiport"
means an area of land or water or a structure that is primarily used for the
takeoff or landing of a powered lift aircraft, including associated buildings
or facilities.
END_STATUTE