Louisiana bans ADS-B landing fees as the state revolt spreads

Louisiana has joined the chorus of states against ADS-B landing fees. The signature puts another state on a growing list that is quietly redrawing where general aviation can afford to base and fly. This fight is headed in two directions at once: statehouses banning the fees one at a time, and Congress weighing whether to settle the question for the whole country.Governor Jeff Landry signed HB 730, which bans airports in the state from using ADS-B systems to calculate, generate, or collect fees from aircraft owners or operators. The law goes into effect on August 1, 2026 and will only apply to aircraft that weigh 12,500 lbs or less. Airports will be fined up to $500 dollars for each aircraft charged in this manner after that date.ADS-B landing fees have been a source of contention in aviation, with some states already banning the practice. Montana was the first state to ban the collection of ADS-B-based fees from most general aviation pilots in May 2025. Florida followed soon afterward.Some states are still working on banning fees. New York introduced a bill on May 15 that prohibits using ADS-B to calculate, generate, or collect fees. In Arizona, the fight has moved into the courts. The FAA had to delay a planned landing fee program at Falcon Field Airport (FFZ) after two flight schools claimed the program violated several laws, including the city code and the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.Those who support the bans claim that the fees hurt flight schools and discourage the use of general aviation aircraft. The opposition states that ADS-B billing is often used to fund airports and could affect airport fee collection and investigations.The issue has even reached Congress with the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act. It states that no one may use data to identify an aircraft for profit without the owner's or operator's permission. Air traffic controllers would only be allowed to use ADS-B for tracking aircraft and improving air traffic safety and efficiency, unless given public notice by the Secretary of Transportation to do otherwise. It was highlighted by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) and Reliable Robotics CEO Robert Rose on Dec. 3, 2025 during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).Additionally, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation had a hearing on May 19 on ADS-B fees. During the hearing, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that it was meant to be a safety and situational awareness tool and that the FAA was against using ADS-B for revenue collection at airports.For owners and operators, the map is starting to matter as much as the mission. Every state that bans ADS-B billing makes its airports cheaper to base and fly into, and every airport still chasing those fees hands pilots a reason to file around. Where an aircraft or flight school lives is becoming much more relevant, and Louisiana just moved itself into the column they will be watching.