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HLS 26RS-462 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 715
BY REPRESENTATIVE DESHOTEL
AIRCRAFT/AVIATION: Requires aerial applicators to carry radios and transponders while
using a publicly owned airport or landing field
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 2:135.3(Section heading), (A), and (B), relative to aerial
3 applicators; to require aerial applicators to operate federally compliant transponders
4 and two-way radios when using publicly owned airports or participating in airport
5 priority programs; to prohibit political subdivisions from discriminating against
6 licensed aerial applicators using public airports; to provide for inspection and
7 enforcement by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry; to provide for aerial
8 applicators at non-towered airports; to provide for public safety and coordination of
9 airport operations; to provide for limitations; and to provide for related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 2:135.3(Section heading), (A), and (B) are hereby amended and
12 reenacted to read as follows:
13 §135.3. Aerial applicators; discrimination prohibited; conditions for use of public
14 airports
15 A.(1) No city, town, or other political subdivision of this state which
16 establishes airports or landing fields, or which acquires, leases, or sets apart real
17 property for such purposes shall use any aspect of its authority to discriminate
18 against the use of such airports or landing fields by any aerial applicator
19 appropriately licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry for aerial
20 application of seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides provided pesticides, provided that such
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HB NO. 715
1 aerial applicator complies with all regulations as may be promulgated by the airport
2 owner or operator or the Department of Transportation and Development for the
3 furtherance of flying safety and protection of the airport environs.
4 B. (2) In the event that any airport authority objects to the use of its facilities
5 by a licensed aerial applicator, the office of agricultural and environmental sciences
6 of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry shall upon request send a
7 representative to inspect and monitor the field prior to, during, and after the use by
8 the aerial applicator to ascertain if any harmful chemicals and other residues remain
9 as a result of the use by the aerial applicator. If the commissioner of the Department
10 of Agriculture and Forestry determines that the applicator is or has been in violation,
11 the commissioner shall have the authority to suspend the offending applicator from
12 further use of the airport or landing strip.
13 B.(1) As a condition of using a publicly owned airport or landing field within
14 this state, or participation in an airport priority program, any aerial applicator
15 licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry shall operate a functioning
16 aircraft transponder consistent with applicable federal aviation regulations, including
17 but not limited to an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B Out)
18 system compliant with 14 CFR Part 91.225 or a Mode C transponder compliant with
19 14 CFR Part 91.215, and an operable two-way radio capable of communicating with
20 airport traffic or advisory services when such services are available.
21 (2) The requirements of this Subsection shall apply solely during the
22 operation of an aircraft in connection with takeoff from or landing at a public airport
23 or landing field for the purpose of public safety and coordination of airport surface
24 and traffic operations.
25 (3) An aerial applicator operating at a publicly owned airport or landing field
26 within this state that does not have an operating control tower shall follow the
27 standard traffic pattern as recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration,
28 unless any of the following occurs:
29 (a) Safety considerations require deviation.
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1 (b) Wind conditions, runway configuration, or aircraft performance
2 characteristics dictate otherwise.
3 (c) Receipt of direction from air traffic control or Federal Aviation
4 Administration guidance.
5 (4) No airport authority, political subdivision, or publicly owned airport or
6 landing field shall use data derived from an aircraft transponder, including but not
7 limited to Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, for the
8 purpose of assessing, calculating, or collecting any fee, charge penalty, or other
9 revenue, or for enforcement of any local ordinance unrelated to safety.
10 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 715 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Deshotel
Abstract: Requires aerial applicators operating at publicly owned airports or landing fields
use radios and transponders as a means of communicating with airport traffic
services.
Present law prohibits any city, town, or political subdivision that owns or manages airports
from discriminating against aerial applicators licensed by the Dept. of Agriculture for aerial
application of seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides, provided the applicators follow all safety and
operational regulations set by the airport or the Dept. of Transportation and Development.
Proposed law retains present law and clarifies the name of Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry.
Present law requires that if an airport authority objects to a licensed aerial applicator using
its facilities, the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, upon request, must inspect and monitor
the site before, during, and after application for any harmful chemicals and other residues
remain as a result of the use by the aerial applicator. Authorizes the commissioner to
suspend the applicator from further airport use if violations are found.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law requires that any aerial applicator using a publicly owned airport or
participating in an airport priority program operate a functioning aircraft transponder
meeting federal aviation standards, including ADS-B Out or Mode C, and maintain an
operable two-way radio for communication with airport traffic or advisory services. Limits
the transponder and radio requirements to aircraft operations during takeoff or landing to
ensure public safety and coordinate airport surface and traffic operations. Further requires
an aerial applicator operating at a publicly owned airport without a control tower to follow
the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) recommended standard traffic pattern, unless
safety, wind, runway, or aircraft performance considerations require deviation, or the pilot
is directed otherwise by air traffic control or FAA guidance.
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Proposed law prohibits any airport authority, political subdivision, or publicly owned airport
or landing field from using data derived from an aircraft transponder, including but not
limited to ADS-B data, to assess, calculate, or collect any fee, charge, penalty or other
revenue, or to enforce any local ordinance unrelated to safety.
(Amends R.S. 2:135.3(Section heading), (A), and (B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture, and Rural Development to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Add a provision to prohibit any airport authority, political subdivision, or
publicly owned airport or landing field from using aircraft transponder data to
impose fees or enforce any local ordinance unrelated to safety.
2. Make technical changes.
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