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SB1826 • 2026

appropriation; wayfinding signs; rural communities

SB1826 - (NOW: advanced air mobility; appropriation)

Budget Education Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
David C. Farnsworth
Last action
2026-03-10
Official status
House second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effectiveness depends entirely on Senate Bill 1827 becoming law.

Funding for Advanced Air Mobility Operations

This bill sets aside $500,000 from the Advanced Air Mobility Fund for the Office of Advanced Air Mobility in fiscal year 2027 if Senate Bill 1827 also becomes law.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets aside $500,000 from the Advanced Air Mobility Fund for operations and support costs.
  • Makes this funding only happen if Senate Bill 1827 is passed and becomes an official law.
  • Schedules the spending to occur during fiscal year 2026-2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Office of Advanced Air Mobility
  • State agencies managing the Advanced Air Mobility Fund

Terms To Know

Advanced air mobility
An air transportation system that primarily uses electric aircraft to carry passengers or cargo in urban or regional areas.
Appropriation
The official act of setting aside money for a specific government purpose.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only works if Senate Bill 1827 is also passed and becomes law.
  • The text does not list the exact daily tasks or projects the Office will pay for with this money, other than general operations and support.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: This amendment replaces the original bill to create a new Office of Defense Innovation that will partner with private companies and universities to boost Arizona's defense, aerospace, and advanced air mobility industries.

  • Establishes an Office of Defense Innovation within the state government to lead efforts in national security and technology development.
  • Requires the office to work with businesses, schools, and military groups to find federal funding and support local companies seeking defense contracts.
  • Directs the office to build a testing ground for autonomous systems and advanced air mobility vehicles like drones or flying taxis.
  • Sets aside $2 million from the Advanced Air Mobility Fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 specifically to start this new office.
  • The amendment does not specify exactly where the testing ground will be built or which private company will partner with the state.
  • It is unclear how much of the $2 million appropriation has already been secured versus what still needs to happen before spending begins.

Plain English: This amendment replaces the original bill to create a new Office of Defense Innovation that will partner with private companies and universities to develop defense technologies, including advanced air mobility systems.

  • Establishes an Office of Defense Innovation within the state government to lead efforts in defense and national security innovation.
  • Requires the office to work with businesses, schools, and military groups to build a testing ground for autonomous vehicles and flying drones (advanced air mobility).
  • Allows the office to apply for federal money and grants specifically for advanced air mobility projects.
  • Sets aside $2 million from an existing fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to pay for these new activities.
  • The amendment text does not explain how the 'qualified public or private entity' partner will be chosen.
  • It is unclear exactly which specific technologies beyond advanced air mobility and autonomous systems will be prioritized in the first year.
  • The bill requires a final report by 2029 to decide if the office should continue, but does not state what happens before that date.

Plain English: This amendment replaces the original bill to set aside $500,000 from a specific fund for an office focused on advanced air mobility in fiscal year 2026-2027.

  • It allocates exactly $500,000 from the Advanced Air Mobility Fund established by Arizona Revised Statutes section 28-8604.
  • The money is designated for operations and support costs of the Office of Advanced Air Mobility during fiscal year 2026-2027.
  • This amendment only takes effect if a separate bill, Senate Bill 1827 regarding aviation, also becomes law.
  • The text does not explain what specific activities the Office of Advanced Air Mobility will perform with these funds.

Plain English: This amendment replaces the original bill to set aside $500,000 from a specific fund for an office focused on advanced air mobility in fiscal year 2026-2027.

  • It allocates exactly $500,000 from the Advanced Air Mobility Fund established by state law.
  • The money is designated specifically for operations and support costs of the Office of Advanced Air Mobility.
  • This funding applies only to the fiscal year running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
  • The amendment will not take effect unless a separate bill called Senate Bill 1827 also becomes law.
  • Because the text strikes everything after the enacting clause, any other details from the original version of SB1826 are removed and replaced by this new language.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-10 House

    House second read

  2. 2026-03-09 House

    House Rules: None

  3. 2026-03-09 House

    House Appropriations: W/D

  4. 2026-03-09 House

    House Transportation & Infrastructure: DPA/SE

  5. 2026-03-09 House

    House first read

  6. 2026-03-04 House

    Transmitted to House

  7. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  8. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Senate committee of the whole

  9. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  10. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  11. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate second read

  12. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  13. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: DPA/SE

  14. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1826 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
ATT�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� AS
PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1826

appropriation;
wayfinding signs; rural communities

(
NOW:
advanced
air mobility
)

Purpose

Conditional on
the enactment of S.B. 1827, appropriates $500,000 from the Advanced Air
Mobility Fund (Fund) in FY 2027 to the Office of Advanced Air Mobility for
operation and support.

Background

Laws
2025, Chapter 185
requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT),
beginning September 1, 2026, to develop or upgrade the statewide aviation plan
for advanced air mobility infrastructure in consultation with the political
subdivisions of Arizona that own or control a public airport, commercial air
carriers, the Federal Aviation Administration and any other relevant
stakeholders. A political subdivision may establish the location of public and
private vertiports, electric aircraft charging stations and the infrastructure
needs of advanced air mobility in accordance with federal law (
A.R.S.
� 28-8602
).

Laws
2025, Chapter 248
establishes the Fund for constructing vertiports and
purchasing advanced air mobility vehicles that can carry passengers or cargo
for testing and demonstration purposes of the ability to use the advanced air
mobility vehicles. Before any expenditure is made from the Fund, the State
Treasurer and ADOT must submit an expenditure plan to the Joint Committee on
Capital Review (
A.R.S.
� 28-8604
).

Advanced air
mobility
is an air transportation system that primarily uses an electric
aircraft, including eCTOL, eVTOL and powered lift aircrafts, to carry
passengers or cargo in urban or regional areas (
A.R.S.
� 28-8601
).

����������� There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Appropriates $500,000 from the Fund in FY 2027 to the Office of Advanced
Air Mobility for operation and support.

2.

Conditions the enactment of this legislation on the enactment of S.B.
1827, Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date, subject to the
provisions of the conditional enactment.

Amendments Adopted by
Committee of the Whole

�

Adopted the strike everything amendment.

Senate Action

ATT����������� 2/24/26�������� DPA/SE����� 7-0-3

Prepared by Senate Research

March 4, 2026

LMM/KS/ci

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB1826 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

appropriation;
wayfinding signs; rural communities

(now:� advanced air
mobility; appropriation)

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1826

AN
ACT

Appropriating monies to the office of
advanced air mobility.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section
1.
1.
Appropriation; office of advanced air mobility; operations and
support

The sum of $500,000 is appropriated
from the advanced air mobility fund established by section 28-8604,
Arizona Revised Statutes, in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the office of advanced
air mobility for operations and support.

Sec. 2.
Conditional enactment

This act does not become effective
unless Senate Bill 1827, fifty-seventh legislature, second regular
session, relating to aviation, becomes law.