CONCERNING VERTIPORTS; AND TO CREATE THE OPEN ACCESS TO PUBLIC-USE VERTIPORTS ACT.

Open vertiport access with safety rules

Arkansas sets access and safety rules for vertiports—facilities serving aircraft that take off and land vertically. The rules cover FAA-authorized air mobility operators providing scheduled or nonscheduled passenger or cargo services in or affecting interstate commerce. State and local governments cannot grant exclusive operator access at public-use vertiports, which serve public purposes on publicly owned property under public-agency control. Local governments also cannot grant or allow exclusive owner or operator rights through zoning, and must promote reasonable access. Covered vertiports must meet FAA design and performance standards, and owners or operators must get FAA layout-plan approval before operations begin. The law supports future state funding for planning and construction but provides no specific appropriation or guaranteed household access. Any rule that conflicts with federal law is void; the remaining rules stay in place.