Helping States Get Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Policy Right
April 16, 2026
As states formulate policies that will shape the future of drones, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and advanced air mobility (AAM), they face a clear choice: enable innovation and enhance public safety through coordinated, forward-looking frameworks, or risk creating a fragmented landscape that slows progress and conflicts with federal law. The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) works with state and local policymakers across the country to advance policies that align with federal aviation law and national airspace priorities. This makes AUVSI unique among trade associations in the advanced aviation industry. In doing so, AUVSI promotes a coordinated, legally durable approach that respects federal preemption, supports regulatory clarity, and avoids fragmentation across jurisdictions, while also considering unique local interests.
This work is guided by AUVSI’s Drone Prepared and AAM Prepared campaigns. Drone Prepared provides a framework for responsible state and local drone and counter‑UAS policy aligned with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authority, while AAM Prepared helps states proactively plan for emerging passenger and cargo advanced air mobility technologies by coordinating infrastructure development, governance models, workforce planning, and interagency alignment. Together, these initiatives support state policies that complement national aviation frameworks while addressing local needs and the societal and economic benefits that come from these technologies.
Across multiple states, AUVSI and its members have successfully advanced legislation consistent with these principles. In Florida, AUVSI engagement helped secure critical provisions in HB 1093 authorizing the Florida Department of Transportation to fund up to 100 percent of vertiport project costs and establishing statewide consistency for key aviation standards, advancing the infrastructure foundation for AAM deployment. In Alabama, AUVSI’s advocacy on HB 429 ensured new flight restrictions preserved exemptions for federally authorized commercial operators, protecting lawful UAS operations while addressing public‑safety factors.
In Arizona, AUVSI reinforced statewide preemption as HB 2875 advanced, helping limit conflicting local drone rules. At the same time, AUVSI supported SB 1457 establishing an Advanced Air Mobility Fund, underscoring the importance of consistent operating conditions for commercial UAS users and recommending targeted refinements to ensure alignment with federal certification and airspace authorities.
In Oklahoma, AUVSI supported SB 1531, establishing the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics as the state’s central authority for UAS and AAM policy. During committee consideration, AUVSI highlighted the value of centralized governance to improve federal coordination, reduce duplication, and accelerate infrastructure and operational planning, an approach reflected as the bill advanced.
In Wisconsin, AUVSI applied Drone Prepared principles throughout consideration of Assembly Bill 629, engaging with lawmakers and stakeholders to provide technical and legal analysis on provisions that could extend state and local authority into areas already governed by federal law. As part of this engagement, AUVSI and industry partners met with Governor Tony Evers’ staff to discuss preemption, enforcement clarity, and alignment with evolving federal frameworks, including the SAFER SKIES Act. Governor Evers’ subsequent veto of AB 629 reflected these considerations and reinforced the importance of coordination with national aviation policy and aligns with AUVSI’s federal work with the FAA’s Office of Chief Counsel.
Taken together, these efforts reflect a consistent national strategy: helping states craft policies that are effective, interoperable, and durable by grounding decisions in federal alignment, operational realities, and public safety outcomes. By engaging early and constructively, AUVSI ensures policymakers have the expertise needed to avoid unintended consequences and responsibly enable innovation.
As state legislatures continue their work, AUVSI will remain a trusted resource to policymakers, supporting frameworks that expand the use of drones, autonomous systems, robotics, and advanced air mobility while ensuring safety, legal clarity, and regulatory consistency across the United States.
