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A 10896

Delays the zero-emission school bus mandate

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Griffin and 5 co-sponsors

Delays the zero-emission bus mandate and sets staged procurement and operation timelines, plus a domestic-content/waiver framework for districts and contractors.

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Bill Summary · A 10896

Summary of Bill A. 10896 (2025-2026, New York)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to delay the statewide mandate requiring zero-emission school buses and to set phased timelines for procurement, operation, and contracting related to zero-emission buses and associated infrastructure.
  • It modifies the existing zero-emission bus mandate timeline and imposes a staged approach to ensure districts, vendors, and manufacturers can align with technology, cost, and domestic manufacturing considerations.

Key provisions and changes

  1. ** Procurement requirements timeline (new bus purchases)**

    • By July 1, 2032, every school district must:
      • a) Purchase or lease only zero-emission school buses when buying new buses.
      • b) Include in procurement for school transportation services a requirement that contractors also only purchase or lease zero-emission buses when providing transport for the district.
      • c) Include in procurement for manufacturing or retrofitting zero-emission buses and for charging/fueling infrastructure a domestic-content requirement. Specifically, parts and components must be produced in the United States (or its territories/possessions), and final assembly must occur in the United States (or its territories/possessions).

  2. ** Domestic content and waiver framework**

    • The Commissioner, in consultation with NYSERDA and the Office of General Services, may waive the domestic-content requirements if:
      • waiving is in the public interest or would avoid unreasonable costs, or
      • obtaining U.S.-made buses and infrastructure would increase contract costs beyond reasonableness or cannot be produced/assembled domestically in sufficient quantities or quality.
    • Waivers are issued annually, with a public notice and opportunity for comment, and must be published on the department’s website with a written explanation.
    • If three consecutive annual determinations find no waiver warranted, the waiver requirement would no longer be required to be issued annually.

  3. ** Operational timeline for zero-emission buses**

    • By July 1, 2035, every school district must:
      • a) Only operate and maintain zero-emission school buses.
      • b) Require contractors providing transportation services to operate only zero-emission buses when serving the district.

Who/what is affected

  • School districts: Responsible for compliance with procurement, operation, and maintenance timelines, and ensuring district transportation contracts reflect zero-emission requirements.
  • Bus manufacturers and retrofitting contractors: Involved in supplying zero-emission buses and related charging/fueling infrastructure; subject to domestic-content requirements or waivers.
  • Contractors/ Transportation Service Providers: Must ensure their fleets used for district transportation are zero-emission by specified dates.
  • State agencies: NYSERDA and Office of General Services participate in the waiver process and coordination.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • Key dates:
    • July 1, 2032: First milestone for mandatory zero-emission purchases and domestic-content procurement (with waiver framework in place).
    • July 1, 2035: Full transition to zero-emission operation and maintenance; contractors must operate zero-emission buses for district routes.
  • Waiver process: Annual determinations with public comment, posted on the department’s website; three consecutive years of no-waiver determinations terminate the annual waiver mechanism.

Overall impact

  • Delays the original mandate while offering staged, codified requirements and a domestic-content framework.
  • Introduces a structured waiver process to balance cost, feasibility, and national production capacity.
  • Sets clear end-state goals for zero-emission operation and procurement across New York school districts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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