ROTOR Act

Summary

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.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Did not advance and is no longer active.

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · U.S. Senate

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Cosponsors

Related bills

• H.R. 6222ROTOR ActIdentical bill

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

1. Feb 24, 2026

   Did not pass

   Failed 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).

   U.S. House of Representatives

2. Feb 24, 2026

   Did not pass

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

   U.S. Senate

3. Feb 24, 2026

   On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the Bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 Required): 264 - 133 (roll no. 72).

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

4. Feb 23, 2026

   At 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.

   At 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.

5. Feb 23, 2026

   Debate - the House Proceeded With Forty Minutes of Debate on S. 2503.

   DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2503.

   U.S. House of Representatives

Read the record

• Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.