S. 3258Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed Senate

Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2026

A bill to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to publish the list of medications that the Administrator has compiled for purposes of the medical certification of airmen and air traffic control specialists, and for other purposes.

Also known as Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025

Introduced November 20, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 25, 2026 at 2:51 AM UTC

The Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2026 requires the FAA Administrator to create and maintain a publicly‑available list of medications that airmen and air‑traffic‑control specialists may safely use when seeking medical certification or clearance. The list must be easy to understand, include drugs that are allowed, those that are prohibited, and any conditions for use, and it is intended to help pilots, controllers, trainees, and their doctors make informed decisions.

Key Provisions

  • Within one year of enactment, the FAA must publish the medication list on its website and on MedXPress for anyone seeking aviation medical certification.
  • The list must be developed after consulting a broad group of stakeholders, including pilot and controller unions, training schools, medical associations, and other relevant parties.
  • The list must show which medications are approved (prescription or over‑the‑counter), any contraindications, whether FAA review is needed, and which drugs are on a “Do Not Issue” or “Do Not Fly” list.
  • When practical, the list should note any required waiting period before an individual can resume duties after starting a medication.
  • The FAA must provide contact information for doctors to ask questions about the list.
  • The list must be updated at least annually and whenever FAA medical guidance changes.
  • A savings clause states that publishing the list does not make the FAA liable for adverse reactions or injuries resulting from use of the listed medications.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

October 1, 2026 • 11:33 AM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 20, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

November 20, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

July 22, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-140.

September 14, 2026

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 559.

September 14, 2026

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5019; text: CR S5019)

September 24, 2026

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

September 28, 2026

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

October 1, 2026 • 11:32 AM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

October 1, 2026 • 11:33 AM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 3258 on the floor

1 Republican
Jon Husted
Sen. Jon HustedR-OH · Sep 24, 2026

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 559, S. 3258. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued September 24, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3258

AN ACT

To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to publish the list of medications that the Administrator has compiled for purposes of the medical certification of airmen and air traffic control specialists, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2026.

2.

Aviation medication transparency; list of approved medications

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to ensure that aviation stakeholders, including airmen, air traffic control specialists, and individuals training to become airmen or air traffic control specialists, who are applicants for medical certification or medical clearance, are informed, in a user-friendly and accessible manner, of—

(1)

the medications on the Do Not Issue or Do Not Fly lists;

(2)

the medications they may safely purchase over-the-counter or be prescribed; and

(3)

under what conditions the medications described in paragraph (2) may be safely used in the aviation environment, consistent with the information provided in the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners (including any update to such Guide), which is updated monthly, or successor documents issued by the Federal Air Surgeon.

(b)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (in this section referred to as the Administrator) shall publish and maintain on a publicly available website of the Federal Aviation Administration (in this section referred to as the FAA) a list of medications that the Administrator, as of the date of publication, has—

(1)

determined may be safely prescribed to or purchased over-the-counter by an applicant for medical certification or medical clearance to treat medical conditions; and

(2)

approved for purposes of the issuance of a medical certification or medical clearance to—

(A)

an airman who requires a medical certificate or a medical clearance; or

(B)

an air traffic control specialist who requires medical clearance.

(c)

Requirements

To ensure information transparency, user-friendliness, and appropriate dissemination, the list required under subsection (b) shall—

(1)

incorporate, prior to dissemination, consultation with—

(A)

the Aeromedical Innovation and Modernization Working Group (established under section 411(a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note)) (in this section referred to as the Working Group);

(B)

organizations representing collective bargaining representatives of airline pilots;

(C)

the certified exclusive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers of the FAA certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code;

(D)

institutions of higher education that are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International;

(E)

professional pilot flight training schools certified under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;

(F)

the Civil Aviation Medical Association;

(G)

organizations representing general aviation operators and pilots; and

(H)

any other stakeholder determined relevant by the Administrator;

(2)

regarding treatment of medical conditions that may impact the performance of duties or the exercise of privileges of an airman certificate, include—

(A)

medications allowed by the Administrator, including prescription medications and over-the-counter medications;

(B)

contra-indications associated with the medications described in subparagraph (A); and

(C)

whether such medications may require review by the FAA;

(3)

be drafted in a user-friendly and accessible manner and, in addition to being made publicly available pursuant to subsection (b), made available on MedXPress for airmen, air traffic control specialists, and individuals training to become airmen or air traffic control specialists at the time when any such individual first seeks a medical certification or medical clearance;

(4)

if practicable, indicate the minimum period of time an airman, air traffic control specialist, or individual training to become an airman or air traffic control specialist is required to have limited or no duties to stabilize on a medication allowed by the Administrator;

(5)

include the list of medications that the Administrator has designated as Do Not Issue or Do Not Fly;

(6)

include information for doctors or medical providers to contact the FAA regarding questions related to the list published under subsection (b), including through a new or existing mechanism that is accessible to such doctors and medical providers; and

(7)

include any other information or clarification that the Administrator determines appropriate.

(d)

List update

Not later than 1 year after the date of publication of the list required under subsection (b), and when relevant information in the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners (or any successor document) or other relevant FAA medical certification policy is updated, the Administrator shall update such list, as appropriate.

(e)

Savings clause

The publication of the list described in subsection (b) shall not be construed as assigning liability to the Administrator for any situation in which an airman, air traffic control specialist, or applicant relies on such list in deciding whether to use a medication on the list and—

(1)

experiences an adverse medical reaction from the use of such medication;

(2)

causes harm or injury to persons or property after using such medication; or

(3)

is deemed by an aviation medical examiner or the FAA to be ineligible for a medical certification or medical clearance.

Passed the Senate September 24, 2026.

Secretary