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Senate approves measure letting districts sell advertising on school buses
Summary
The Senate passed HB199, which allows local school boards to sell up to 35% of the side area of school buses for advertising managed by private contractors; supporters called it modest revenue for transportation funds, opponents warned against commercialization. The measure passed 18–7.
The Utah Senate on March 9 approved House Bill 199, giving school districts the option to sell advertising space on school buses, with limits and conditions intended to keep the school district staff out of direct advertising management.
Sponsor Sen. Stevenson described the bill’s key points: districts could sell ad space not to exceed 35% of a bus side, nothing would be placed on the front or rear of buses, and private contractors would handle the placement and management of ads. Revenue from the ads would be restricted to the district transportation fund, the sponsor said.
Sen. Morgan spoke against the bill on principle, saying she did not want to “commercialize our school buses” and voiced concerns about the types and appropriateness of ads that might appear and how students could perceive them. Sen. Stevenson responded that the bill requires districts to contract with the private sector to manage ads and that districts would have discretion whether to participate.
The Senate recorded a final vote of 18 yea, 7 nay and 4 absent. The bill passed as amended and will be returned to the House for the signature of the speaker.
Next steps: the House must sign the enrolled bill; local school boards would decide whether to adopt the authority and the sponsor and opponents said district policy and contracting details would govern implementation.
