This bill creates an exception that allows the Department of Transportation to allocate up to $50 million per fiscal year specifically for safety compliance projects at smaller airports. The legislation targets nonhub and small hub airports—those with lower passenger volumes—by exempting them from certain spending restrictions on airport development funds. These exempted funds can be used for projects necessary to bring these smaller airports into compliance with federal airport safety design standards. The bill, introduced in December 2024, streamlines federal airport funding rules to help smaller regional airports meet essential safety requirements without being constrained by existing limitations on how they can use certain federal transportation money.