Bipartisan House Bill Introduced to Extend Bus Program

A new legislative proposal seeks to continue federal funding for electric school bus purchases through 2031.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Isometric editorial illustration of a clean geometric school bus and charging station, representing federal clean energy infrastructure funding. — A bipartisan group in the House of Representatives introduced legislation to extend the Clean School Bus Program through 2031, providing $5 billion in funding. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced bipartisan legislation to extend the Clean School Bus Program. The bill aims to maintain the $5 billion federal initiative that helps school districts transition away from diesel-powered fleets.

Why it matters

The legislation is designed to support student health while offering school districts a path to long-term savings against rising diesel fuel costs. By extending the program, lawmakers seek to address the significant demand from waitlisted applicants.

To date, the program has facilitated the delivery of 5,200 electric school buses, which account for 91% of total project applications. This represents a 12-fold increase in the number of electric school buses on the road compared to five years ago.

The players

Jahana Hayes

Jahana Hayes is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives who served as a sponsor for this bus program legislation.

Buddy Carter

Buddy Carter is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives who co-sponsored the bill to extend school bus funding.

Greg Landsman

Greg Landsman is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a sponsor of the Clean School Bus Reauthorization Act.

The details

The Clean School Bus Reauthorization Act was introduced by Representatives Jahana Hayes, Buddy Carter, and Greg Landsman to address the backlog of 1,800 districts waiting for support. Federal funds help districts cover the higher upfront costs of electric vehicles, a move that currently impacts districts across the political spectrum, with 51% of participants located in Republican-held Congressional districts.

Five years ago, the number of electric school buses was 1/12th of the current level.
On October 9, 2026, the bipartisan legislation was introduced to the U.S. House.
The proposed extension would continue the program through 2031.

Roadmap

This legislation follows the established framework of the Clean School Bus Program to modernize student transportation. It marks a significant push to codify the transition to electric fleets as a standard operational goal for school districts nationwide.

School districts across the country may see continued access to federal grants that offset the higher purchase price of electric buses compared to traditional diesel models. This funding reduces the financial barrier for local administrators looking to modernize their transportation infrastructure.

The takeaway

The move reflects a growing bipartisan consensus on the economic and health benefits of electric school fleets. Continued investment could further accelerate the adoption of electric technology in local transportation departments nationwide.