Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House advances clean-fuel school-bus plan; members seek fixes on disposal of old buses
Summary
Lawmakers amended and circled HB49, a plan to fund cleaner school buses and infrastructure; the sponsor asked for a $20 million state appropriation matched by districts. Members raised questions about destroyed buses, alternative fuels and fiscal effects; the bill was circled for further language work.
Representative Handy moved and the House adopted Amendment 1 to HB49, the Clean Fuels School Buses and Infrastructure bill, and presented the measure’s rationale and funding plan.
Handy told members the initiative is designed to reduce air pollution exposure for children who ride school buses and to replace the oldest, most-polluting vehicles. He said Utah has a fleet of about 2,900 school buses and that at least 429 of them run older diesel engines; he proposed a $20 million state appropriation matched by roughly $20 million in district funds to create an initial $40 million program to replace the worst buses and to invest in fueling infrastructure, including CNG stations if districts opt for compressed natural gas.
Amendment 1, adopted on the floor, gives the State Office of Education rulemaking flexibility to allocate funding between infrastructure and bus purchases rather than locking in a precise split. During Q&A, members asked whether the bill covers electric and future technologies; the sponsor said the bill’s definition of alternative fuel includes CNG, propane, blended biodiesel and electricity. Representative Hutchings and others supported the bill’s goals.
A point of contention was language in the bill that would require replaced buses to be made permanently inoperable; some members urged allowing sale of older buses out of state to reduce fiscal pressure and to serve rural districts without air-quality problems. Representative Anderegg successfully moved to circle the bill so the sponsor and members can negotiate changes off the floor; the sponsor accepted the motion. The motion to circle carried, allowing additional drafting before further action.
What happens next: HB49’s amendment is adopted and the bill is circled for further work on disposition language and fiscal details; sponsors plan follow-up with the State Office of Education and school districts.
