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SENATE 2503119th CongressOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 264 - 133 (Roll no. 72).

ROTOR Act

Last Action
2/24/2026

Actions

  • 2026-02-24On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 264 - 133 (Roll no. 72).
  • 2026-02-24Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 264 - 133 (Roll no. 72).
  • 2026-02-24Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2277)
  • 2026-02-23At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  • 2026-02-23DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2503.
  • 2026-02-23Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2248-2257)
  • 2026-02-23Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  • 2025-12-18Held at the desk.
  • 2025-12-18Received in the House.
  • 2025-12-18Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  • 2025-12-17Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8813-8817)
  • 2025-12-17Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  • 2025-12-17The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
  • 2025-12-17Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8811-8817)
  • 2025-11-18Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 269.

Showing 15 of 20 actions. Full history on Congress.gov.

CRS Summary

As of 2025-12-17 (55)

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.

Cosponsors (20)

  • Jerry Moran (R-KS)
  • Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
  • Ted Budd (R-NC)
  • Shelley Capito (R-WV)
  • Roger Marshall (R-KS)
  • Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
  • Tim Sheehy (R-MT)
  • Todd Young (R-IN)
  • Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
  • Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
  • Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
  • Mark Warner (D-VA)
  • Edward Markey (D-MA)
  • Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
  • Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
  • Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
  • John Curtis (R-UT)
  • Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
  • Peter Welch (D-VT)
  • Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)

Subjects

  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Advisory bodies
  • Aviation and airports
  • Computers and information technology
  • Congressional oversight
  • Department of Transportation
  • Employment and training programs
  • Federal officials
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Labor-management relations
  • Public-private cooperation
  • Transportation safety and security
Read on Congress.gov

Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.