Rep. Andrade Bill Cuts School Bus Costs, Transitions to Clean Energy Future

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is working to reduce costs for school boards by removing time limits on transportation contracts, allowing school districts to transition to cost-effective and environmentally friendly electric buses. 

“School districts are asked to enter into short term, more expensive and less flexible school bus transportation contracts, shifting budget priorities away from the classroom,” Andrade said. “These nearly consecutive years of contract extensions and renegotiations puts an unnecessary burden on school boards, students and all parties involved. ” 

Andrade sponsored House Bill 2235, allowing school boards to enter into transportation contracts for longer periods of time, incentivizing a transition to an electric vehicle fleet. For contracts longer than five years, a termination option must be available unless it includes future electric vehicles as part of a district’s future transportation fleet. 

Current law makes this transition a cost-poor investment, as companies bidding with school districts are effectively encouraged to raise prices.

House Bill 2235 passed both chambers. 

“Making Illinois public education second to none continues to be my top priority, but we can’t keep that promise if districts are strapped for cash after securing school bus contracts,” Andrade said. “Companies have forced districts to bid for their business, driving up costs, taking dollars out of classroom needs, and held us back from integrating school buses into our clean energy transition framework. Springfield had to take a bold stance against this predatory practice, and this legislation fulfills the promise we made to put our children’s education and our environment first.”