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ROTOR Act

Introduced: February 13, 2026 Introduced by: Onder, Robert F. Republican · Missouri See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Nov 21, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Nov 20, 2025

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Nov 20, 2025

Introduced in House

Nov 20, 2025

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4853)

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act or the ROTOR Act

This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight.

As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.

Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In equipment to provide the aircraft with location information of other aircraft and traffic advisories. Current law does not require this equipment.

Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights) and requires additional reporting for the exception.

The Government Accountability Office must review the use of the ADS-B Out exception and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) must annually audit FAA oversight of operations that use the exception.

Further, the bill repeals a 2018 law that prohibits DOT from requiring certain military aircraft to install or use ADS-B equipment.

The bill also requires

the OIG of the Army to audit the Army’s coordination with the FAA,
the FAA to establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and review the safety of flight operations and routes around airports, and
the FAA to enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.

What's happening now November 21, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 1 version

Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 3

Armed Services Committee
House of Representatives
Aviation Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
House of Representatives

Lobbying activity 38

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES
for AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES · Virginia · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2026
PENN AVENUE PARTNERS
for AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. · District of Columbia · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2026
COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA
for COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA · District of Columbia · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026
MAVERICK STRATEGIES, LLC
for MCCARTHY ADVANCED CONSULTING, LLC (ON BEHALF OF SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PILOTS ASSN.) · District of Columbia · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026
MAVERICK STRATEGIES, LLC
for MCCARTHY ADVANCED CONSULTING, LLC (ON BEHALF OF NJASAP) · District of Columbia · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026
MAVERICK STRATEGIES, LLC
for NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION · District of Columbia · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026