This bill directs Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to adopt new rules for the purchase of zero-emission school buses by school districts or owner/operators of fleets that contract with the districts.
The bill declares a new state policy to increase the purchases of new zero-emission school buses. Purchases of these buses must target 10%, 50% and 100% of all new buses purchased, by 2030, 2035 and 2040, respectively. In state communities that Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) determines are disproportionately burdened by air pollution, the targets for 2030 and 2035 are instead set to 50% and 90%, respectively.
The bill further charges the DEQ to provide technical and financial assistance to school bus fleet owners to assist with planning the transition to a zero-emissions fleet. This assistance can consist of planning for charging infrastructure, integration into local energy networks, and development of smart energy solutions that improve local resilience.
40% of available financial assistance for purchase of new zero-emission buses must go to disproportionately impacted communities. A new Zero-Emissions School Bus Assistance Fund is to be established in the State Treasury, to assist in providing financial assistance to the school bus fleet owners.
The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2026, but DEQ and EQC may take action before that as needed to enable implementation.