H.R. 6427 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Mar 24, 2026. Received Mar 25, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySimplifies FAA rules for smaller airport pavement
The bill makes it easier for smaller airports to use state highway standards instead of federal standards when building or fixing runways and taxiways. Right now, airports have to jump through hoops to get FAA approval to use state standards. This bill lets them do it more easily, as long as the FAA checks that it won't hurt safety. The FAA also has to make that safety decision within six months.
How it affects you
This mainly affects smaller commercial airports and the states they're in. For these airports, the change could mean faster and possibly cheaper runway projects, since they can follow state standards instead of federal ones. If you fly out of a smaller regional airport, you might see construction projects move along more smoothly, though the bill doesn't spell out specific benefits for everyday passengers.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Mar 16, 2026)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 6427
AN ACT
Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Nicholas J. Begich (R-AK-At Large) · Introduced Dec 4, 2025 · Transportation and Public Works · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 25, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”