The bill facilitates the procurement of electric school buses by authorizing boards of education to use competitive contracting and extended lease terms for these vehicles. It allows school districts to acquire electric school buses, on-site charging infrastructure, and maintenance services without the need for public bidding, thereby streamlining the process. Key amendments include provisions that enable boards of education to purchase or lease electric school buses for a term not exceeding their service life, while maintaining the existing 10-year lease limit for fossil fuel school buses.

Additionally, the New Jersey School Boards Association is designated as a government aggregator, allowing it to procure electric school buses and related services on behalf of school districts. The bill also introduces a new definition of "electric related service" to cover electric school buses and associated construction projects. These legislative changes aim to promote the adoption of electric school buses and enhance the sustainability of school transportation in New Jersey, ensuring compliance with existing procurement regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:18A-4.1, 48:3-91