WASHINGTON (OCTOBER 10, 2023) — In a landmark action for the state’s school bus riders, drivers and communities, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 579 into law on October 8th, 2023, requiring all new school buses purchased or contracted in the state be zero-emission starting January 1, 2035. This new law will support and accelerate the transition to clean electric school buses, which have no tailpipe emissions and the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions of any school bus type.  

California has been a long-time leader in school bus electrification, boasting the country’s first electric school bus deployments in 2014 – in Escondido, Gilroy and Kings Canyon, CA. Since then, the state has supported electric school bus adoption through several funding programs, including California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program, the California Energy Commission’s School Bus Replacement Program, and the California Air Resources Board’s Rural School Bus Pilot Project, Carl Moyer Program and Community Air Protection Incentive Program. In addition, the state has committed $1.5 billion for zero emission school buses through its 2022-23 fiscal year state budget.  

Currently, with 2,078 “committed” electric school buses, California has more than any other state. A “committed” electric school bus is defined as one that has been awarded funding, ordered, delivered or is in operation.  

Following is a statement from Sue Gander, Director, World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative:

“This is a full circle moment for California,” said Sue Gander, Director of WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative. “Nearly ten years ago, three school districts in California deployed the country’s first electric school buses, and within a decade, state leaders have now taken this critical step to ensure all students across the state will benefit from a clean commute to school. California is far and away the leader in state funding for electric school buses. The World Resources Institute applauds Governor Newsom and Assemblymember Phil Ting for matching that funding with this new fleet transition commitment. For this one-two combination to successfully and equitably electrify the state’s school bus fleet, it’s essential that the state prioritize those most impacted by on-road pollution in their funding programs and support all districts with technical assistance and workforce development.”