Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 422 on April 23, 2026, prohibiting airports in the state from using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data to calculate, generate or collect fees from operators of small aircraft.
The law, effective July 1, 2026, targets aircraft with a gross weight of 12,499 pounds or less operating under FAA Part 91 rules. It specifically bars airports from relying on ADS-B information for charges related to landings, touch-and-go operations, departures or entry into a defined airspace radius around the airport.
The statute states that an airport may not use information broadcast or collected by ADS-B systems as a means for calculating, generating and collecting fees from aircraft owners or operators within Florida’s geographic boundaries.
While the measure does not eliminate airport fees entirely, it eliminates ADS-B as the billing mechanism for these light general aviation aircraft. The bill, introduced by Sen. Tom Wright, passed both chambers of the Florida Legislature with large margins after advancing through multiple committees.
Similar restrictions exist in Montana, and lawmakers in Arizona are considering comparable legislation, while federal proposals seek to limit ADS-B use to safety purposes.