Assemblyman Brian Maher(R,C-Walden) applauds and supports the continued advocacy the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of New York State (BOCES), and the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS) regarding the state’s zero-emission school bus mandate.

These organizations recently sent a letter to members of the New York State Legislature outlining their position on the mandate, highlighting the significant financial, operational and safety challenges it presents for school districts across New York.

“Assemblyman Maher is proud to stand with these organizations as they continue to raise serious and valid concerns about this mandate,” said Meghan Hurlburt, chief of staff. “They are on the front lines of managing school district budgets and operations, and their voices must be part of this conversation.”

Hurlburt said the Assembly Minority Conference has been a leader on this issue, working closely with school officials and education groups to better understand the real-world impact of the mandate.

“We have made it a priority to listen to the educational community, and what we are hearing is clear—this mandate, as it stands, creates an unsustainable financial burden for school districts, raises serious questions about grid reliability and introduces potential safety concerns,” Hurlburt added. “These are issues that cannot be ignored.”

Maher’s office noted that the cost of transitioning entire school bus fleets to zero-emission vehicles could place significant strain on local budgets, ultimately impacting taxpayers and diverting resources away from classrooms and student services.

“School districts should not be forced into mandates that are not fully thought through or funded,” Hurlburt said. “We need practical, phased solutions that support environmental goals while protecting students, taxpayers and the quality of education.”

Maher will continue to champion this issue and push for meaningful changes to ensure the mandate is workable, affordable and does not come at the expense of students or local communities.