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Panel advances AB 1111 to let districts reallocate functioning decommissioned buses to districts in need
Summary
AB 1111 would allow school districts that receive incentives to buy zero‑emission buses to transfer functioning replaced buses to smaller districts that still need interim buses, rather than destroying them; proponents say the change eases transportation gaps while offsets are phased in under the 2035 mandate.
Assemblymember Soria presented AB 1111, which would allow school districts that accept state incentive grants to replace buses with zero‑emission vehicles to transfer still‑serviceable, functioning decommissioned buses to other school districts in need rather than requiring them to be destroyed.
Soria said the law change responds to a market shift: manufacturers are reducing diesel and natural‑gas bus production in anticipation of the 2035 zero‑emission school‑bus mandate, leaving some districts without available non‑zero‑emission replacement options. The bill would let districts donate or sell functioning used buses to smaller, rural districts that rely on them while charging infrastructure and range capability for EV buses are still being developed.
Dan Merwin of the California School Boards Association supported the measure, saying it could be ‘‘the only form of mass transit’’ for many rural communities and would help preserve students’ access to school during the transition. Supporters said the bill is temporary and designed to address supply gaps so rural and small districts do not lose transportation capacity as fleets transition.
Several transportation and electric‑vehicle stakeholders asked for technical amendments; the committee adopted amendments and advanced the bill to appropriations after supporters and interested parties agreed to continue technical work.
The committee recorded a favorable vote and sent the measure to appropriations.
