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House approves $20 million clean-fuel school-bus initiative; districts must provide 50% match
Summary
House Bill 41 creates a competitive grant program to replace older diesel school buses with alternative-fuel buses and fund infrastructure. Sponsor cited a $20 million fiscal note ($14M for buses, $6M for infrastructure) and said districts would provide a 50% match; the bill passed 73-1.
The House approved House Bill 41, which establishes a grant program to help school districts replace older diesel school buses with cleaner alternative-fuel vehicles and to fund supporting fueling infrastructure.
Representative Handy, sponsor of HB 41, said the pupil transportation task force and the State Office of Education developed the initiative to address aging buses (the state has roughly 2,800 school buses, many 15 years or older). He described a $20 million fiscal note, with approximately $14 million earmarked for bus replacement and $6 million for infrastructure, and said districts would be required to provide a 50 percent local match. Sponsor framed the measure as a one-time investment that could leverage roughly $40 million in clean-air and fuel-savings benefits.
Handy presented fuel-cost comparisons and lifetime savings estimates: a bus that runs 12,000 miles a year over a 15-year life could save about $40,000 in fuel costs switching to compressed natural gas (CNG) quick-fill, and propane also showed significant savings. The sponsor cited statute 53A-17a-127 on state transportation contributions and said the $20 million reflected a shortfall in transportation funding.
After brief floor questions and summation, the House amended the bill and passed HB 41 by a vote of 73 yeas to 1 nay. Supporters said the program addresses public-health concerns from diesel emissions and produces long-term fuel savings; sponsors said districts would apply through the State Office of Education and the pupil transportation task force.
