Committee continues bill to capitalize Virginia electric school-bus grant fund

The subcommittee continued consideration of HB1340 to 2027 after extended testimony from public-health advocates, parent groups and industry representatives.

Staff explained that HB1340 would amend the Virginia Electric Vehicle Grant Fund to allow entities under contract with school divisions to receive grants to purchase electric school buses or convert commercial vehicles, and would remove language requiring non-state funds to capitalize the program. Staff said a $5,000,000 capital request could fund roughly five projects based on prior programs and estimated vehicle costs.

Supporters emphasized children's health and long-term savings for districts. An online representative of Moms Clean Air Force urged support to reduce pollution linked to asthma and other diseases. Bob Kitchen, a family physician, told the subcommittee that air quality inside diesel buses can be "5 to 10 times worse than outside the bus" and urged the transition to electric buses. Matt Bell of the American School Bus Industry Coalition said the fund created in 2021 has not been capitalized and said replacing five diesel buses with electric buses reduces asthma risk for an average of 1,500 students.

Delegate Delia Carr and others asked to continue the bill to 2027 to work on budget questions; the committee adopted the motion to continue by voice vote. The bill will be revisited in 2027 with further fiscal work and potential appropriation requests.