ROTOR Act

Where it stands

1. Introduced Done · Jul 29, 2025
2. Committee Done · Jul 29, 2025
3. Passed Senate Done · Dec 17, 2025
4. Passed House Not yet
5. President Not yet
6. Law Not yet

Failed in the House on Feb 24, 2026.

From the official actions on Congress.gov.

Key points

What it changes

A plain-language summary isn't ready yet. The official summary below describes the bill.

Who it affects

A plain-language summary isn't ready yet. The official summary below describes the bill.

What it costs

No cost estimate yet.

Where it stands

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 264 - 133 (Roll no. 72). (Feb 24, 2026)

What happens next

It failed in the House. It moves forward only if it is brought up for another vote.

Official 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 by the Congressional Research Service (Passed Senate version), via Congress.gov. These are proposed provisions, not enacted law.

Recorded votes

1. HOUSEFinal passageFeb 24, 2026 · roll call 72

   On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: Failed (264–133)

   This vote decided whether the bill passes this chamber.
   Votes by party

   How each party voted on roll call 72

   Party	Yes	No	Present	Did not vote	Share voting Yes
   Democratic	187	1	0	26
   Republican	77	132	0	9
   Independent	0	0	0	0

   Party totals from the official roll call.

   Office of the Clerk, U.S. House ↗ — includes how every member voted

Vote types come from the official question text. How we label votes

Legislative history

1. Feb 24, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 264 - 133 (Roll no. 72).
2. Feb 24, 2026Failed 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).
3. Feb 24, 2026Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2277)
4. Feb 23, 2026At 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, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2503.
6. Feb 23, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2248-2257)
7. Feb 23, 2026Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
8. Dec 18, 2025Held at the desk.
9. Dec 18, 2025Received in the House.
10. Dec 18, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.
11. Dec 17, 2025Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8813-8817)
12. Dec 17, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
13. Dec 17, 2025The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
14. Dec 17, 2025Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8811-8817)
15. Nov 18, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 269.
16. Nov 18, 2025Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
17. Nov 18, 2025Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
18. Oct 21, 2025Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
19. Jul 29, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
20. Jul 29, 2025Introduced in Senate