Education committee holds bill to overhaul school transportation funding after safety and distribution concerns

Representatives Dan Garner and Jack Nelson presented House Bill 293 to the House Committee on Education proposing to replace the current block-grant and split reimbursement system for pupil transportation with a uniform 85% per-mile reimbursement and to explicitly allow district-authorized non-school-bus vehicles for certain trips.

"It strikes the old formula and puts in a new one that would do away with the block grant which is based on enrollment and makes it so that they get reimbursed at 85% of the mileage right across the whole board," Representative Dan Garner said, summarizing the bill.

Cosponsors and staff described a spreadsheet showing uneven current reimbursements — some districts allegedly receiving more than 200% of their actual costs under the existing system while others receive much less — and proposed restoring $7,500,000 previously removed from transportation appropriations to help smooth district impacts. Representative Jack Nelson said the change would make reimbursement align more closely with actual miles and costs and allow the legislature to add funding that directly follows district transportation costs.

The bill drew two kinds of concern. Safety advocates and several contractors warned that authorizing smaller passenger vehicles or vans for student trips risks student safety and could create perverse incentives to replace purpose-built school buses with lower-cost nonconforming vehicles. Lynette Dawe of Boise School District, a former Department of Education transportation auditor, told the committee, "House Bill 293 is not the answer and puts the safety of children at risk," and described national practice favoring compartmentalized yellow school buses.

Contractor and industry witnesses underscored safety and liability concerns; Brent Carpenter of Brown Bus Company testified that federal motor-vehicle safety standards make the yellow school bus a safer platform than vans or motor coaches and said the bill "prioritizes convenience over safety."

Supporters and several district transport professionals described situations where smaller, nonconforming vehicles are routinely used for short or small-group trips and said allowing properly inspected, trained and authorized alternate vehicles could save districts money and improve efficiency. Westside School District Superintendent Tyler Tullford and Madison School District transportation staff said alternate vehicles can substantially lower per-trip costs for small groups when drivers receive required training and the vehicles are inspected.

The committee discussed how the proposed 85% rate and the restored $7.5 million would redistribute funds across districts; presentations showed some districts would gain and others would lose under the new formula. Representatives raised concerns about virtual schools and past statutory language that has allowed some virtual programs to claim transportation-related reimbursements; Gideon Tolman of the Department of Education said those provisions are embedded in current code and would need separate review.

Given the complexity, widespread questions from both supporters and critics, and requests from committee members to consult local districts, Representative Vandeiff moved to hold House Bill 293 in committee to a time certain, March 5, 2025. The committee agreed and the motion to hold was approved.