Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025
Key claim: The Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025 would require the FAA to allow state highway standards for airfield pavement at certain small nonprimary commercial airports upon state notice, limited to a safety determination the FAA must make within six months (extendable once with justification).
Abstract
(HR6427 · 119th Congress) Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025 This bill reduces the requirements for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow a state to use its state highway standards, instead of federal standards, for airfield pavement projects at certain smaller commercial aviation airports. The bill also requires the FAA to act within a certain time period. Under current law, airports are generally required to meet FAA standards for Airport Improvement Program-funded construction. For certain nonprimary commercial service airports (i.e., airports that have 2,500 to 10,000 passenger boardings annually) that serve aircraft that do not exceed 60,000 pounds gross weight, the FAA must instead use the state highway standards. A state must request the use of the state standards, and the FAA must determine that their use (1) will not negatively affect safety, and (2) will not result in a shorter life for the pavement. Under the bill, the FAA must use state highway standards for airfield pavement projects at these airports if (1) the state provides notice to the FAA that nonprimary airports intend to use the state standards, and (2) the FAA determines that the state standards will not negatively affect safety. The bill also requires the FAA to make a safety determination within six months of a state providing notice. The FAA may extend the time period by six months if the six months is insufficient to make the determination. For each six-month extension, the FAA must notify the state and provide a justification for the extension. Latest action (2026-03-25): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Why this matters
The bill narrows FAA oversight of airfield pavement design at small nonprimary commercial airports by defaulting to state highway standards unless the FAA affirmatively finds a safety concern within a bounded review window. The practical effect is faster, cheaper pavement projects at low-activity airports, while shifting the burden of proof toward FAA to justify departures from state practice. Safety implications hinge on whether highway pavement specs adequately handle aircraft loading at these facilities.