H.R. 4686

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to expand Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations for unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · July 23, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia · Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Table of contents

• H.R. 4686
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Definitions
  • SEC. 3. Expanding unmanned aircraft systems operations
  • SEC. 4. Examination of applicable international requirements
  • SEC. 5. Use of artificial intelligence in waiver determinations
  • SEC. 6. Establishment of an electric vertical takeoff and landing pilot program
  • SEC. 7. Prioritization of unmanned aircraft systems manufactured in the United States

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Definitions

• In this Act:
  • The term appropriate committees of Congress has the meaning given the term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.
  • The term unmanned aircraft system has the meaning given the term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 3. Expanding unmanned aircraft systems operations

• (a) In general
  • The Secretary of Transportation shall—
    • not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, issue a proposed rule enabling routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (hereinafter referred to as ) operations for unmanned aircraft systems; and BVLOS
    • not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, issue a final rule based on the proposed rulemaking issued under paragraph (1).
• (b) Safety metrics
  • The Secretary of Transportation shall—
    • not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, establish metrics for assessing the performance and safety of BVLOS operations of unmanned aircraft systems; and
    • not later than 180 days of the date of enactment of this Act, identify and describe any additional regulatory barriers and challenges to such BVLOS implementation and submit to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy recommendations for—
      • addressing the barriers and challenges expeditiously; and
      • potential regulation or legislative action.

SEC. 4. Examination of applicable international requirements

• The Secretary of Transportation shall—
  • explore options to ensure that unmanned aircraft systems operating over the high seas within flight informational regions for which the United States is responsible for operational control may operate without being subject to the requirements applicable to manned aircraft engaging in international navigation as referenced in the Convention on International Civil Aviation;
  • identify potential barriers for the operation described in paragraph (1); and
  • submit to the appropriate committees of Congress—
    • a report on the findings under paragraphs (1) and (2); and
    • appropriate legislative recommendations necessary to enable such operation.

SEC. 5. Use of artificial intelligence in waiver determinations

• (a) In general
  • Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall initiate the deployment of artificial intelligence tools to assist in and expedite the review of unmanned aircraft system waiver applications under part 107 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
• (b) Capability of artificial intelligence tools
  • The artificial intelligence tools described in subsection (a) shall—
    • support performance- and risk-based evaluation of proposed operations;
    • identify materially similar precedents and recommend consistent mitigation measures;
    • assist the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in identifying categories of unmanned aircraft system operations with sufficient safety data or recurring approval patterns that may warrant further rulemaking to eliminate the need for individualized waivers; and
    • be used in accordance with guidance on Federal use of artificial intelligence, as detailed in Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M–25–21.
• (c) Additional waiver review
  • In conducting the deployment of artificial intelligence tools required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation shall examine the extent to which such artificial intelligence tools could be used to review exemption petitions for applicants seeking to operate pursuant to section 44807 of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 6. Establishment of an electric vertical takeoff and landing pilot program

• (a) In general
  • The Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall establish the electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (hereinafter referred to as ) integration pilot program to provide grants to State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to carry out projects to accelerate the deployment of safe eVTOL operations in the United States.
• (b) Request for proposals
  • (1) In general
    • Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a public request for proposals for the program established under subsection (a) to State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments.
  • (2) Submission requirements
    • Such proposals shall be submitted not later than 90 days after the request is issued under subsection (a) and include a private sector partner with demonstrated experience in eVTOL aircraft development, manufacturing, and operations.
• (c) Selection of projects
  • Not later than 180 days after the request is issued under subsection (a), the Secretary may select eligible pilot projects that propose to begin eVTOL operations not later than 90 days after the date on which any agreement for a pilot project is established. Selection criteria shall include—
    • the use of eVTOL aircraft and technologies developed or offered by a United States-based entity;
    • overall representation of economic and geographic operations and proposed models of public-private partnership; and
    • overall representation of the operations to be conducted, including advanced air mobility, medical response, cargo transport, and rural access.
• (d) Project agreements
  • (1) Agreement contents
    • The Secretary shall execute agreements with applicants selected under subsection (c) that contain—
      • project goals;
      • regulatory needs;
      • timelines;
      • information sharing and data exchange mechanisms; and
      • responsibilities.
• (e) Reporting
  • (1) Implementation report
    • Not later than 180 days after the selection of pilot program participants under subsection (c), the Secretary shall submit to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the appropriate committees of Congress an initial implementation report containing a summary of early-stage planning, interagency coordination, and any immediate regulatory or legislative challenges identified.
  • (2) Annual report
    • Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary submits the initial implementation report under paragraph (1), and annually thereafter until the date specified in subsection (f), the Secretary shall submit to the Director and the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—

SEC. 7. Prioritization of unmanned aircraft systems manufactured in the United States

• The Secretary of Transportation shall prioritize the integration of unmanned aircraft systems manufactured in the United States into the national airspace system over unmanned aircraft systems manufactured outside of the United States to the maximum extent permitted by law.

• the progress of the pilot program;
• any evaluation of program goals and outcomes;
• recommendations for the permanent integration of eVTOL operations into the national airspace; and
• any proposed future initiatives to maintain United States leadership in eVTOL flight.