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H.R. 4146

U.S. HouseIn House Committee

Summary

H.R. 4146, the PAPA Act of 2025, was introduced in the House on Jun 25, 2025 by Rep. Robert Onder (R) with 9 co-sponsors. It was referred to Subcommittee on Aviation, and last saw action on Jun 26, 2025: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.


Record

Text

H.R. 4146 has 9 co-sponsors.

hb4146/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 4146 IH: Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act of 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
2025-06-25
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4146 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2025 Mr. Onder introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL
To limit the use of data from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast systems, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act of 2025 or the PAPA Act of 2025 .
2.
Use of data from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast
(a)
Limitation on use of data
Data from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast may not be used by any person, governmental agency, or other entity to identify aircraft for the purpose of obtaining revenue from the owner or operator of such aircraft without the consent of such owner or operator.
(b)
Use of data by air traffic controllers
Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data—
(1)
may be used to assist air traffic controllers in tracking aircraft and improving air traffic safety and efficiency; and
(2)
may not be used for any proposed purpose other than the purpose under paragraph (1) unless the Secretary of Transportation, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, determines that such data may be used for such proposed purposes consistent with this section.
3.
Limit on use of ADS–B data
Section 46101(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not and inserting neither the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration nor any other Federal, State, local, territorial, or Tribal official may .
4.
Imposition of fees on general aviation aircraft
(a)
In general
Chapter 401 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
40133.
Imposition of fees on general aviation aircraft
(a)
Public availability
Prior to imposing a landing or takeoff fee on general aviation aircraft, the owner or operator of a public-use airport (as defined in section 47102) shall make available to the public—
(1)
all efforts such owner or operator has undertaken to reduce non-airside related expenses;
(2)
all efforts such owner or operator has undertaken to obtain revenues from sources other than general aviation aircraft;
(3)
the total cost estimate of the airside safety projects that such owner or operator plans to undertake, the amount or percentage of the fees imposed on general aviation aircraft that will be used to pay for such projects, and an estimated timeline to collect such amount; and
(4)
an assessment of the impact of any fees on the health and vitality of general aviation and on the pilots, students, nonprofit organizations and businesses that support or rely on general aviation in the area of the airport.
(b)
Use of fees
Any revenues derived from fees imposed on general aviation aircraft described in subsection (a) may only be used for airside safety projects.
(c)
Regulations
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may promulgate such regulations or impose such reporting requirements as may be necessary to implement this section.
(d)
General aviation aircraft defined
In this section, the term general aviation aircraft means an aircraft that is being used for personal, recreational, flight training, or for purposes other than scheduled airline operations or military flights.
.
(b)
Clerical amendment
The analysis for chapter 401 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
40133. Imposition of fees on general aviation aircraft.
.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-06-25
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Jun 25, 2025

hb4146/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (06/25/2025)

Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act or the PAPA Act of 2025

This bill limits how Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data may be used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other government agencies. The bill also establishes disclosure requirements for certain user fees imposed on general aviation aircraft at public-use airports and limits the purposes for which the fees may be used.

As background, ADS-B transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.

The bill prohibits a person or government agency from using ADS-B data to identify an aircraft in order to impose a charge on the aircraft owner or operator.

The bill also specifies that air traffic controllers may only use ADS-B data to assist in tracking aircraft and improving air traffic safety and efficiency, or for other purposes determined appropriate by the Department of Transportation after notice and public comment.

Further, the bill prohibits any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal official from initiating an investigation (excluding a criminal investigation) of a person based exclusively on ADS-B data. Under current law, this prohibition only applies to the FAA.

In addition, owners and operators of public-use airports must publicly disclose financial information about certain expenses and cost estimates for airside safety projects (e.g., runway or taxiway safety improvements) prior to charging landing or takeoff fees for general aviation aircraft (e.g., aircraft used for personal, recreational, or flight training purposes). Further, any revenue from these fees may only be used for airside safety projects.

Sponsors

Rep. Robert Onder (R) sponsors H.R. 4146, and 9 members have co-sponsored it.

Committees

H.R. 4146 went before 2 committees: Aviation Subcommittee and Transportation and Infrastructure.

Aviation Subcommittee
Aviation Subcommittee
Referred to · Jun 26, 2025 · 73 Bills
Transportation and Infrastructure
Transportation and Infrastructure
Referred To · Jun 25, 2025 · 156 Bills

Actions

H.R. 4146 has taken 3 actions since Jun 25, 2025, the latest on Jun 26, 2025.

ChamberAction
Jun 26, 2025
House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.Aviation Subcommittee
Jun 25, 2025
House
Introduced in House
Jun 25, 2025
House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Votes

H.R. 4146 has not gone to a roll call.

Titles

H.R. 4146 goes by 4 titles, 2 of them short titles.

  • PAPA Act of 2025 — Display Title
  • PAPA Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To limit the use of data from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast systems, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Lobbying

18 clients hired 16 firms and 48 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 4146 in 68 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Aviation/Airlines/Airports, Budget/Appropriations, Transportation, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Homeland Security, Telecommunications, Defense, Agriculture.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATIONAviation trade association representing aircraft owners and pilots.District of Columbia16$220K
AIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATIONMaryland16
GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG AIRPORTAviation - airport and related activitiesSouth Carolina15$75K
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)District of Columbia15
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESVirginia15
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION INCWisconsin15
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIESDistrict of Columbia15
COUNTY OF VENTURAAirline CompanyCalifornia14$240K
VECTOR AIRPORT SYSTEMSAviation consultancyVirginia14$120K
CITY OF DENTONGeneral purpose local governmentTexas14$40K
SAVANNAH AIRPORT COMMISSIONAviation, AirportGeorgia13$96K
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICADistrict of Columbia13
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATIONDistrict of Columbia13
RELIABLE ROBOTICS CORPORATIONAdvanced aircraft automation and safety-enhancing systems.California13
PORT OF OAKLANDPort and AirportCalifornia12$70K
CAPITAL REGION AIRPORT COMMISSIONAirportVirginia12$30K
PORT OF PORTLANDOregon12
WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITYAirport AuthorityMichigan11$20K

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill. The 20 named most often, of 48.

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)2025 second_quarter$1.5M2nd Quarter - Report
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)2025 third_quarter$1.3M3rd Quarter - Report
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)2025 fourth_quarter$1.2M4th Quarter - Report
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES2026 first_quarter$1.2M1st Quarter - Report
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES2026 second_quarter$1.2M2nd Quarter - Report
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)2026 second_quarter$1.1M2nd Quarter - Report
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES2025 second_quarter$1M2nd Quarter - Report
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (D/B/A AIRLINES FOR AMERICA)2026 first_quarter$1M1st Quarter - Report
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES2025 fourth_quarter$987.2K4th Quarter - Report
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES2025 third_quarter$972.8K3rd Quarter - Report
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICAAIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICA2026 second_quarter$775.2K2nd Quarter - Report
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICAAIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICA2025 third_quarter$754.5K3rd Quarter - Report
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICAAIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL -- NORTH AMERICA2026 first_quarter$723.2K1st Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIESNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES2026 second_quarter$540K2nd Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIESNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES2026 first_quarter$506.4K1st Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIESNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES2025 fourth_quarter$465.8K4th Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIESNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES2025 third_quarter$442.1K3rd Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIESNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES2025 second_quarter$435.7K2nd Quarter - Report
AIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATIONAIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATION2025 second_quarter$420K2nd Quarter - Report
AIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATIONAIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATION2025 fourth_quarter$410K4th Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 4146 under Transportation and Public Works, one of its 31 policy areas.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 4146’s is Transportation and Public Works.

hr4146/policy-areas.txt
Transportation and Public WorksAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationWater Resources Development

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 4146, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. ONDER:H.R. 4146.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8, Clause 3[Page H2970]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com