S2482

The New York State Senate passed S2482, an act to amend the Public Authorities Law relating to renewable energy planning for schools, by a vote of 59-1 on March 23. The bill's passage came after the Senate rejected an amendment proposed by Sen. Borrello that would have replaced an electric school bus mandate with a pilot study program. Borrello argued the amendment was germane to the bill's focus on planning resources, citing what he characterized as failures of early electric bus adoption in rural school districts. He cited the Lake Shore School District, where buses could not complete winter routes and children were left stranded, and another district superintendent who called a full EV bus fleet transition "impractical and frankly impossible" given costs and infrastructure challenges. The President ruled the amendment nongermane under Senate Rule 6, Section 4B, and that ruling was upheld on appeal. Sen. Weik, who voted against the bill, expressed concern that the focus on studying renewable energy storage indicates the lack of a safe plan for electric buses. Only Sen. Walczyk voted against final passage of the bill.

The Senate passed S2482, sponsored by Senator Parker, which amends the Public Authorities Law. The bill received overwhelming support in a roll call vote, with 57 senators voting in favor and only Senator Walczyk voting in opposition. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage.