On Wednesday, June 25, the Ohio House and Senate favorably passed Am. Sub. HB 96, the state operating budget.  The bill is now with Governor Mike DeWine to decide what stays in and what comes out before it becomes effective upon his signature.  The governor has until midnight on Monday, June 30 to sign before the fiscal year begins on July 1, 2025.

When the dust settled and the votes were taken Ohio airports made enormous advancements in addressing airport infrastructure needs around that state.    

On Wednesday, June 11, the Ohio Senate passed the state operating budget, HB 96.  Unfortunately, all of the gains made in the Ohio House version of the bill for airport infrastructure funding were removed and not reinserted before passing out of the Senate.  The Ohio House voted not to concur in the Senate changes which sends the bill to a conference committee to work out the differences over the next two weeks.

On Wednesday, June 4, President Trump signed a proclamation banning travel into the United States for individuals from a dozen countries, citing national security concerns.

The proclamation is similar to a travel ban Trump instituted in his first term.  It fully restricts the entry of nationals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

In addition, it partially restricts entry into the U.S. for nationals coming from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The proclamation makes exceptions for nationals from all 19 of those countries who are lawful permanent residents of the United States or existing visa holders and individuals “whose entry serves U.S. national interests.

The travel ban proclamation comes after Trump on his first day in office signed Executive Order 14161 that called for increased vetting and screening of migrants entering the United States, citing national security concerns.

The president has taken numerous actions in his first four months in office to crack down on both the flow of migrants at the southern border and legal pathways into the United States.

Click here for a copy of the travel ban.

Watch YouTube Video: President Donald J. Trump Signs Travel Restrictions Executive Order

On June 4, 2025, Christopher Rocheleau, Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development regarding the FAA's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. The FAA is seeking $22 billion in new funding, supplemented by $5 billion in previously enacted ​

Rocheleau emphasized the FAA's commitment to maintaining the safest airspace in the world while preparing for future challenges. ​ He urged the committee to support the budget request to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in aviation.

appropriations, totaling $27 billion to enhance the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). ​

Key priorities outlined in the budget include a historic $4 billion investment in Facilities & Equipment to modernize air traffic control systems and address emerging technological challenges. ​ This includes $1 billion to upgrade outdated telecommunications infrastructure to a modern Internet Protocol-based network and $450 million to launch the Radar Replacement Program, aimed at replacing aging radar systems to improve surveillance and reduce delays. ​

The FAA is also addressing the air traffic controller shortage with a $97.3 million allocation to recruit and train up to 2,500 new controllers in FY 2026. ​ Efforts include streamlining hiring processes, increasing starting salaries for trainees, and expanding opportunities for military controllers. 

Click here for a copy of Acting Administrator Rocheleau’s testimony.

Click here to watch the testimony.

On April 9, 2025 a new law to address derelict and abandoned aircraft around Ohio will become effective.  The bill, HB 77, also addresses the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in Ohio.

This is a significant win for the Ohio Aviation Association and the 104 public-owned, public use airports OAA represents. For years (in some cases decades) derelict and abandoned aircraft have been plaguing airports across Ohio.  

Some of these aircraft have become hazards on our public-owned, public-use airports. They also detract from operations resulting in lost revenue. These aircraft stall efforts to attract businesses to locate their operation at a public airport. SB 206 provides reasonable timeframe for the airport and aircraft owners, robust notification procedures, and reasonable criteria to ensure that only aircraft that are abandoned or derelict can be disposed of by public airports.

Click here for a copy of HB 77.

Click here for a copy of OAA's testimony on SB 206, the bill originally introduced to address derelict and abandoned aircraft.

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, the Ohio Aviation Association testified in support of HB 96 (Stewart), the general operating budget, in the House Finance Committee.  

Tony Fiore, Executive Director of the OAA, provided testimony summarizing the existing funding in the the general operating budget, HB 96, and transportation budget, HB 54 (see chart above). Mr. Fiore asked the committee to keep the existing $10 million allocated to the Ohio Airport Improvement Program (AIP).  He also asked the committee to include several amendments to address many issues facing airports. 

The first amendment would adopt language that the House passed in the transportation budget to require all aviation fuel tax collected by the state go back into airport infrastructure projects. The second would increase the AIP funding by $5 million to be used for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act projects. The third amendment would allocate $4 million into the Ohio Department of Commerce - Bureau of Underground Storage Tanks (BUSTR) to be used by Ohio airports to replace and remediate existing underground aviation fuel tanks.  The forth would add $10 million for ODOT-Office of Aviation to use for hanger and tarmac development on Ohio airports. The final amendment would create a $10 million fund in the Ohio Department of Development for commercial service airports to enhance baggage claims, ticketing, retail and security areas within the airport.

The aviation fuel tax fund language is of critical importance for Ohio airports and the infrastructure projects to maintain the state's aviation assets.  The fund will consist of money appropriated to it by the general assembly and transfers from the petroleum activity tax fund.  It also states that the fund shall be used by the office of aviation to support the Ohio airport improvement program that provides financial support to publicly owned-public use airports in Ohio.  In addition, all revenue from the tax as measured by calculated gross receipts derived from the sale of motor fuel used exclusively in the operation of aircraft shall be used to fund airport improvements. 

The House is expected to adopt changes to HB 96 and pass it out of the committee and full House within the next few weeks before sending the bill to the Senate for additional hearings. The Senate is expected to hold hearings on the bill in late April through the end of May or early June before passing its version. Any differences in the House and Senate version will be worked out in a conference committee in mid-June.  The final version is expected to be considered and passed by both the House and Senate before the end of June and sent to Governor DeWine for his signature before June 30, 2025.

Click here for a copy of the OAA House testimony.

Click here to view a video recording of the House hearing.  The OAA testimony begins around the 4 hour mark, but was not available at the time of this publication.

Airport Managers, Sponsors, and Consultants! ODOT - Office of Aviation has opened the window for the Fiscal Year 2026 Ohio Airport Improvement Program – Direct Grant Application for General Aviation Airports.

• Click here for the announcement Letter FY26 DGP
• Click here for the application procedures
• BlackCat Aviation web-portal at: Log In - Black Cat Aviation

To access the New Application Procedure through the Office of Aviation home page, select “Direct Grant Application” that includes eligibility and selection criteria and instructions for applying for a Grant. All grant selection criteria and application material can be downloaded from the web page or is also available from within the State’s BlackCat Aviation Data and Grant Management portal.

The deadline to submit applications to the Office of Aviation is May 1, 2025.

The Adams County Board of Commissioners anticipates receipt of funds through the Federal Aviation Administration, Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation, State of Ohio for improvement at the Alexander Salamon Airport.  It is anticipated that the proposed project will be accomplished over a period of up to five years.  Qualified design professional interested in being considered for this work are invited to submit a State of Qualifications to provide professional engineering and planning services.  Click here for full details.  

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Ohio Aviation Association testified in support of the transportation budget as HB 54 (Stewart) in the Senate Transportation Committee.  

Tony Fiore, Executive Director of the OAA, provided testimony citing the existing funding in the transportation budget, HB 54, and the general operating budget, HB 96 (see chart above). Mr. Fiore asked the committee to keep the House adopted amendment that would require all aviation fuel tax collected by the state go back into airport infrastructure projects.

The provision, found in Section 4561.03, creates the Ohio Airport improvement fund in the state treasury.  The fund shall consist of money appropriated to it by the general assembly and transfers from the petroleum activity tax fund.  It also states that the fund shall be used by the office of aviation to support the Ohio airport improvement program that provides financial support to publicly owned-public use airports in Ohio.  In addition, all revenue from the tax as measured by calculated gross receipts derived from the sale of motor fuel used exclusively in the operation of aircraft shall be used to fund airport improvements. 

The Senate is expected to adopt changes to HB 54 and pass it out of the committee and full Senate next week.  Any differences in the House and Senate version will be worked out in a conference committee.  The final version is expected to be considered and passed by both the House and Senate before the end of March and sent to Governor DeWine for his signature before April 1, 2025.

Click here for a copy of the OAA Senate testimony.

Click here to view a video recording of the Senate hearing.  The OAA testimony begins at 1:14:14 and runs through 1:27:55.

Click here for a copy of the OAA House testimony.

Click here to view a video recording of the House hearing.  The OAA testimony begins at the start of the hearing through minute 22:33.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Ohio House passed the Governor’s proposed transportation budget as HB 54 (Stewart).  The vote was 97-0.

Tony Fiore, Executive Director of the OAA, provided proponent testimony on  February 12, 2025 in the House Transportation Committee.  Fiore cited the existing funding in the transportation budget, HB 54, and the general operating budget, HB 96 (see chart above). Mr. Fiore provided the committee with a proposed amendment that would require all aviation fuel tax collected by the state go back into airport infrastructure projects.

The House adopted the amendment prior to HB 54 being voted out of the House.  The provision, found in Section 4561.03, creates the Ohio Airport improvement fund in the state treasury.  The fund shall consist of money appropriated to it by the general assembly and transfers from the petroleum activity tax fund.  It also states that the fund shall be used by the office of aviation to support the Ohio airport improvement program that provides financial support to publicly owned-public use airports in Ohio.  In addition, all revenue from the tax as measured by calculated gross receipts derived from the sale of motor fuel used exclusively in the operation of aircraft shall be used to fund airport improvements. 

Click here for a copy of the OAA testimony.

Click here to view a video recording of the hearing.  The OAA testimony begins at the start of the hearing through minute 22:33.

House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said the plan is to adopt the Operating budget amendments are due on Friday, March 14, Stewart said, noting his goal is for the budget to pass on the House floor on Wednesday, April 9.