Bill

S. 2503 (119th): Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act or the ROTOR Act

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 and notifications for the exception. The Government Accountability Office must review the use of the ADS-B Out exception and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation must annually audit FAA oversight of operations that use the exception. Further, the bill repeals a 2025 law that exempts certain military helicopters from the ADS-B Out requirements for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. 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.

house · Substantive

Rankings updated October 26, 2026, 11:44 AM ET · Votes through September 30, 2026
Exported candidates: 719 | Filings on file, by office: H: 5838 | P: 1467 | S: 1567. These counts include every filing for that office, so they are larger than the ranked list. One person can have more than one filing. Non-voting delegates are left out.

Official source

Summary

Recorded summary

The bill, the ROTOR Act, addresses aviation safety. It would generally require aircraft to operate with ADS-B In equipment, limit which flights may qualify as sensitive government missions for the ADS-B Out exception (excluding training flights), and add reporting and notification requirements for that exception. It directs GAO to review the exception's use and the DOT Inspector General to audit FAA oversight of exception-based operations annually. It repeals a 2025 exemption for certain military helicopters in the Washington, DC area, requires an Army Inspector General audit of Army coordination with the FAA, directs the FAA to create an office on military airspace coordination and route safety, and calls for FAA memoranda of understanding with military agencies on safety information sharing.

aviation_safetyhouse_proceduremilitary_aviationoversightproceduralrules_suspensionsurveillancetransportation_regulation

Theological note: The measure bears on public safety, neighbor-love in the air corridor, and the proper accountability of government power. Narrowing a military exception to tracking requirements and adding audits and reporting touch on equitable treatment and on officials answering for exceptions they invoke. These are prudential safety and governance questions, and the summary does not show a direct moral harm being advanced or restrained.

Scoring

How this bill is scored

Debt and war Cloture and Tier 1 Procedural votes Scoring mechanics

Roll

Recorded votes

Roll 72 · 24-Feb-2026 2:04 PM · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Failed

Yea 264 · Nay 133 · Other 35

Yea

Nay

Other

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