SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 275

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 12, 2025

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 275.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to promulgate rules and regulations to reduce the noise generated by helicopters at airports, heliports, and helistops licensed by the State.  These rules and regulations are to include requirements that the proprietor of an airport, heliport, or helistop reduce the number of helicopters leaving the airport, heliport, or helistop by not less than 47 percent compared to the average number of helicopter flights leaving from the airport, heliport, or helistop for the 12 months preceding the date of enactment of the bill.  Flights by: (1) helicopters owned or operated by a federal or military authority; the State or a political subdivision thereof; a news agency; or a licensed hospital or healthcare provider; and (2) helicopters providing emergency medical transportation are not included in the required reduction in flights.

      Additionally, the bill requires, to the extent permitted by federal law, the Commissioner of Transportation to require a person applying for a license or renewing a license to operate a heliport or helistop to certify that the person will prohibit helicopters providing sightseeing or tourist services from leaving or landing at the heliport or helistop between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weekdays and between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on weekends.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1) define “news agency”;

      (2) provide that, to the extent permitted by federal law, the Commissioner of Transportation is to adopt rules and regulations to reduce the noise generated by helicopters;

      (3) provide that the required reduction in the number of helicopters leaving airports, heliports, or helistops is not limited to weekday operations;

      (4) provide that helicopters owned or operated by a political subdivision of the State, a news agency, or a licensed hospital or healthcare provider are not required to reduce helicopter flights; and

      (5) include a requirement that, to the extent permitted by federal law, the Commissioner of Transportation is to require a person applying for or renewing a license to operate a heliport or helistop to certify that the person will prohibit helicopters providing sightseeing or tourist services from leaving or landing at the heliport or helistop between certain hours on weekdays and weekends.