Committee backs Advanced Air Mobility bill to spur vertiports, exemptions and liability guardrails (HB 1093)

Representative Spencer presented HB 1093, the Advanced Air Mobility and Infrastructure Act, saying the measure lowers barriers for eVTOL aircraft and associated infrastructure to accelerate job creation, investment and deployment in Florida. The bill includes targeted sales tax exemptions for eVTOL aircraft, batteries, training devices and electricity used in training; it also allows vertiports and charging infrastructure to qualify for public‑private partnerships and permits FDOT to fund vertiport projects where federal funding is not available.

Members asked about timing, SunTRAX and taxpayer exposure. Representative Spencer said the bill does not change SunTRAX funding and focuses on infrastructure and regulatory consistency to attract private investment. Representative McFarland offered an amendment to align vertiport liability protections with existing sovereign‑immunity protections for public airports and added a 10‑year sunset; the amendment applied to vertiports co‑located with public airports and was adopted.

Local redevelopment and industry witnesses voiced support: Trey Price (Kissimmee Place Redevelopment) and Jeff Sharkey (Skydrive/Volocopter) signaled support for the bill’s incentives and the potential for economic development. Representative Cheney said she supports the technology but wanted more discussion about taxpayer exposure and therefore did not support the bill at this time; the committee nevertheless reported HB 1093 favorably.