BUSES Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9317
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-15: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T21:18:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes a national minimum standard for engine idling on certain buses under the Clean Air Act, preventing states and localities from enforcing restrictions on idling periods shorter than 15 minutes for over-the-road buses and school buses.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 110(a) of the Clean Air Act to prohibit any state implementation plan from including or enforcing engine idling limits applicable to over-the-road buses or school buses for periods under 15 minutes.
- Amends Section 304 of the Clean Air Act to bar citizen suits against bus owners or operators for alleged violations of such idling restrictions.
- Prohibits states or localities from operating bounty-based programs that pay individuals for reporting or enforcing idling violations on these buses, and requires termination of any existing programs within 180 days of enactment.
- Defines "over-the-road bus" by reference to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill adds explicit limitations to the Clean Air Act that override prior allowances for state and local idling regulations. It introduces new statutory bars on both government enforcement actions and private citizen lawsuits related to short-duration idling, along with a mandatory phase-out of incentive-based enforcement mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Limits authority of state environmental agencies and the EPA to impose or approve stricter idling rules for affected buses through implementation plans.
- Citizens and operators: Provides legal protections for bus owners and operators against enforcement actions and lawsuits for idling under 15 minutes; ends financial incentives for private reporting of violations.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Over-the-road bus operators and school bus fleets.
- State and local governments responsible for Clean Air Act implementation plans.
- Private individuals or groups previously participating in bounty-based enforcement programs.
- Environmental agencies and organizations involved in air quality enforcement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure asserts federal preemption over certain state and local environmental regulations, potentially raising questions about the balance of authority between federal and state governments under the Clean Air Act. It also restricts private enforcement mechanisms that have been used in other Clean Air Act contexts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-15: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-06-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Buses Utilizing Safety and Environmental Standards Act — issued 2026-06-15 — PDF (3 pages)