Committee approves measure to formalize airport airspace protections and allow GDOT to withhold funds until compliance

A House committee approved, on a voice vote, a substitute bill that would require airport sponsors to identify the FAA Part 77 "imaginary surface" around airports and require local governments with zoning authority to adopt and enforce compatible protections, with a statutory penalty for noncompliance.

"This is just a method to ensure compliance with the federal regulations," the bill sponsor said, describing the measure as a front‑end process to identify affected airspace and notify local governments so conflicts over heights and vegetation can be resolved before they become FAA enforcement problems.

Witnesses representing airports and local governments supported the effort. Edward Lindsey of the Georgia Airport Association told the committee, "We are one of only 3 states in the country who don't do not have a bill similar to this," and said the association supports the Georgia Municipal Association's amendment. Noah Reyes of the Georgia Municipal Association said the proposal brings the Department of Transportation into the process to help map affected areas and build a collaborative enforcement process while preserving local zoning authority and variance procedures.

The substitute allows for variances and channels GDOT support to local governments that may lack technical capacity to map Part 77 surfaces. The bill includes an enforcement provision that would allow GDOT to suspend certain state transportation funds (discussed as LMIG or similar allocations) to a local jurisdiction that fails to enact or enforce required protections; committee members and counsel negotiated amendment language making the suspension "the lesser of three years or until the airport‑affected area governing body enacts and enforces" the protections.

Committee members asked practical questions about the remediation process and timing for fund restoration. Agency representatives said the administrative process for certifying compliance would be developed once the statute is adopted and suggested that a 60‑day administrative turnaround could be reasonable once compliance is certified.

What happens next

The committee passed the substitute LC395007S as amended by voice vote; the transcript records no roll‑call tally. The bill will proceed in the House legislative process for further consideration.

Who said it

— Representative Jenkins (sponsor): described the bill as a compliance mechanism to identify and protect FAA Part 77 surfaces and to direct GDOT to assist local governments.
— Edward Lindsey, Georgia Airport Association: urged favorable consideration and said the state lacks a front‑end law used in most other states.
— Noah Reyes, Georgia Municipal Association: described GDOT's role and the need for variances and notice to affected property owners.

Additional context

Witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized that this bill does not change FAA authority but aims to reduce last‑minute conflicts that can lead to federal penalties for airports. The three‑year figure reflects GDOT fund expiration/rollover practice described by witnesses; the amendment limits the suspension to the shorter of three years or the date the locality comes into compliance.