BUSES Act

Key Points

• This bill would stop states and cities from punishing bus drivers for idling their engines if they are stopped for less than 15 minutes. It applies specifically to school buses and large travel buses that carry passengers between cities.
• The plan changes the Clean Air Act to make sure local rules cannot be stricter than this new 15-minute limit. This would help bus drivers who need to keep their engines running to maintain heat or air conditioning for passengers during short stops.
• The bill also bans bounty programs where private citizens get paid to report idling buses to the government. Any city that currently has one of these programs would have to shut it down within six months of the bill becoming law.
• People would no longer be allowed to sue bus companies or drivers for these short idling periods. This is meant to protect bus operators from expensive legal battles over minor stops.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.