Article | September 19, 2023
Tracking Electric School Bus State Legislation

In states across the country, legislation to advance the electric school bus transition is being proposed. We’re keeping track.

School bus with blue sky and clouds.

Momentum for electric school buses continues to build nationwide, with states across the country considering legislation to move the electric school bus transition forward. At the Electric School Bus Initiative, we are keeping track of the proposed state legislation for school bus fleet transition targets, in the legislative action tracker below.  

The below tracker captures bills that propose fleet transition targets for state school bus fleets. Note that this summary is not comprehensive of all of the types of legislation that may impact school buses. The summary for each bill highlights the parts relevant to electric school buses. For more information, please reach out to us at ESBinfo@WRI.org.

State Legislative Tracker: Electric School Bus Fleet Transition Legislation 

 

California

  • AB 579 (enrolled)
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Requires all new school bus purchases and contracts to be zero emission vehicles by 2035   
    • Districts may request one 5-year extension under certain conditions 
    • Extends allowable contract lease length for zero emission vehicles 

Connecticut

  • HB 6234
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Requires all vehicles purchased or leased by the state, including transit buses, to be battery electric vehicles
    • Streamlines the permitting and opening of new electric vehicle charging sites
    • Creates and expands state offices to provide technical assistance to local governments, including school districts, in order to access programs concerning the Inflation Reduction Act
    • Requires utilities to plan for the increased use of electric vehicles in the state and fund related grid improvements
    • Accelerates electrification of the state's school bus fleet 

Delaware

  • HB 10 (enacted)
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Requires that 30% of school buses purchased by the state be electric vehicles in FY 2030 
    • Sets interim goals for Department of Education’s annual bus purchases to include a certain percentage of electric-powered school buses – starting with 5% in 2025 and then increasing by 5% each year until 2030 to reach the 30% mark 

Hawaii

  • SB 457 
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Beginning from 2023, requires the state to not enter into a school bus contract for a term that extends past 2045, unless the bus is a zero emission bus. 
    • Beginning from 2045, requires the state to enter into a school bus contract only if the bus is a zero emission bus 

Hawaii

  • HB 654 / SB 970   
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Requires the Department of Education to transition to zero emission vehicles for all student transportation by 2035

Illinois

  • HB 2287  / SB 2154 
  • Summary of proposed legislation: 
    • Requires all new school bus purchases and contracts to be electric by 2028  
    • Requires all school buses operating in equity investment eligible communities to be electric by 2030   
    • Requires all school buses operating statewide to be electric by 2035  

Massachusetts

  • HB 3139 / SB 2218 
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Requires all public fleets, including school buses, to be  
      • 50% electric by 2025  
      • 75% electric by 2030  
      • 100% electric by 2035 

Massachusetts

  • HB 3231 / SB 2121
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Public fleet electrification included within broader climate bill  
    • Requires all public fleets, including school buses, to be  
      • 50% electric by 2025  
      • 75% electric by 2027  
      • 100% electric by 2030

Washington

  • HB 1368 / SB 5431   
  • Summary of proposed legislation:
    • Requires that by 2030, 70% of new school bus purchases and contracts must be zero emission vehicles (HB 1368) 
    • Requires that by 2033, all new school bus purchases and contracts must be zero emission vehicles (HB 1368) 
    • Requires that beginning 2035, any new school bus purchases and contracts must be zero emission vehicles (SB 5431) 
    • Allows districts to request a one-term extension up to 5 years under certain conditions
    • Establishes a zero emission school bus grant program to facilitate this transition  

Last updated: September 19, 2023

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