Aeronautics: County of Kern: Meadows Field Airport.

Senator Hurtado's proposal for expanding flight availability at Meadows Field Airport directs the California Department of Transportation to develop a comprehensive air service enhancement plan for Kern County. The legislation requires collaboration between state, local, and federal partners to conduct market studies identifying high-priority routes and assess demand for additional flights at the Bakersfield-area facility.

The plan must establish funding mechanisms drawing from federal grants, state allocations, and private investment to support infrastructure upgrades and airline incentives. Local hiring initiatives and workforce training programs, developed in partnership with educational institutions and workforce boards, aim to prepare Kern County residents for new positions in aviation, logistics, hospitality and construction. The department must also create metrics to evaluate the plan's impact on job creation and regional economic growth.

The bill's findings note Bakersfield's population exceeding 400,000 and Kern County's role as an economic center for agriculture, energy and healthcare. Authors assert expanded air service would address the region's above-average unemployment rates and economic disparities in rural areas while helping diversify beyond traditional industries. The legislation includes provisions for state reimbursement of costs incurred by local agencies participating in the plan's development, subject to review by the Commission on State Mandates.