HB2022 amends Virginia law governing aircraft registration and registration fees. It keeps the basic requirement that Virginia residents who own civil aircraft, certain nonresidents whose aircraft are based in Virginia for more than 90 days in a 12-month period, aerial application aircraft operators, and for-hire intrastate air carriers must register their aircraft with the Department before operating in the Commonwealth. The bill also confirms that owners of unmanned aircraft are not subject to this registration requirement.
The main policy change is a substantial increase in the maximum registration fees the Department may charge, along with authorization for multiyear registrations. For noncommercial single aircraft, the annual fee cap rises from $5 to $30, with two- and three-year options capped at $55 and $70. Similar increases apply to noncommercial dealer fleet, commercial fleet, and commercial single aircraft registrations, with the bill also allowing multiyear versions of those registrations and setting corresponding total fee caps. The bill also preserves the rule that aircraft brought into Virginia solely for major maintenance or major repair are exempt from registration if the owner can document the aircraft’s out-of-state base and the work being performed.
In practical terms, the bill affects aircraft owners, dealers, air carriers, and the Department responsible for registration administration. It updates the fee schedule in 5.1-5 of the Code of Virginia and ties aircraft registration to the licensure concept used for the aircraft tax provisions in Title 58.1. The bill does not change the underlying tax itself, but it does change the administrative costs and options associated with compliance.
The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable. The bill moved through subcommittee, committee, and both chambers with large margins, including unanimous or near-unanimous committee votes and 83-12 in the House and 36-0 in the Senate. That voting pattern suggests broad agreement on the need to update fees and registration options.
There is little evidence of major controversy in the available record. The only notable point of potential contention is the significant increase in fee caps, which could affect aircraft owners and businesses that register aircraft in Virginia. However, the recorded votes indicate that any concerns did not generate substantial opposition during consideration.
Impact
HB2022 amends 5.1-5 of the Code of Virginia to raise maximum aircraft registration fees, authorize multiyear registrations for several registration categories, and clarify exemptions and registration treatment for certain aircraft. It affects the Department’s registration authority, aircraft owners, dealers, air carriers, and aerial applicators, while leaving the basic registration framework intact and preserving the exemption for aircraft brought into Virginia solely for major maintenance or repair. The bill also maintains the connection between aircraft registration and the aircraft tax/licensure provisions in Title 58.1.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported throughout the legislative process. It advanced with strong committee votes and passed both chambers by wide margins, including unanimous Senate passage. The voting history suggests general agreement that the registration fee schedule needed updating and that multiyear registration options would be useful.
Contention
The primary substantive issue is the increase in fee caps for aircraft registrations, especially for commercial and noncommercial owners and dealers who would bear higher administrative costs. A secondary issue is the expanded use of multiyear registrations, which may have been seen as beneficial for convenience but also changes fee collection timing. Despite these potential concerns, the recorded votes show little organized opposition, indicating that any disagreement was limited or resolved during the process.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 3, relative to exemption from sales and use tax on aircraft repair services and parts.