Committee advances bill letting districts use non‑yellow buses for small student trips; safety and funding debate continues

The Idaho House Committee on Education voted to advance House Bill 396 with a due‑pass recommendation after testimony that sharply split along safety and cost lines.

Sponsor Rep. Dan Garner told the committee HB 396 simplifies student‑transportation statutes and allows districts, charters and contracted operators to use vehicles other than full‑size yellow school buses for small groups of students or short trips. Garner said the change would give local districts more options and, in some cases, yield savings when transporting small groups for extracurricular activities, appointments or short runs.

Gideon Tolman, financial officer at the State Department of Education, told the committee the bill aligns statute with current practice and does not change district authority; rather it updates statutory language to reflect existing contracted and charter arrangements.

Opponents…