June 16, 2026
FROM REP. NICK LANGWORTHY:
Washington, D.C.— Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) today announced the introduction of the BUSES Act, H.R. 9317, legislation to establish a consistent national standard for bus idling regulations and prevent state and local governments from imposing a patchwork of burdensome mandates that increase costs, create operational challenges, and undermine the ability of transportation providers to safely serve their communities. Additionally, the bill would prohibit private civil actions related to bus idling violations and prevent government programs that financially reward private individuals for reporting violations.
Across the country, states and municipalities have enacted increasingly restrictive anti-idling policies that place significant compliance burdens on school transportation providers, private bus operators, and motorcoach companies. New York City has adopted some of the most extreme measures, where private bus operators have reportedly received more than 4,000 idling summonses since 2020, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and mounting legal costs. California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut are pursing similar regulations.
Additionally, New York City adopted a citizen reporting program, where individuals can receive 25–50% of collected fines for successful complaints. Recent reporting has revealed several participants have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some approaching $1 million in total payouts.
“Bus operators, who often travel across state lines and multiple jurisdictions, should not be forced to navigate a confusing maze of conflicting regulations just to do their jobs,” said Congressman Langworthy. “This legislation creates a commonsense national standard that protects transportation providers from excessive mandates while ensuring they have the flexibility needed to safely operate, especially in regions where safety, traffic, and weather conditions are a legitimate concern. This bill also rightly puts an end to the disturbing big brother bounty programs that are nothing more than a cash grab.”
“This bus idling tax is not just bad policy. It is an offense to every principle of access and inclusion this country stands for. Operators are being put in an impossible position: do the job right and risk a fine or cut corners on safety to beat an arbitrary clock. No one should ever have to make that choice,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).
Gottheimer continued, “In the last five years, the price of motorcoach tickets has increased by thirty-five percent. That’s yet another tax on Jersey families at a time when people are already getting crushed under the cost of living.”
Specifically, the legislation establishes a nationwide standard preventing states and local governments from restricting covered buses from idling for less than 15 minutes, prohibits private civil actions related to covered bus idling violations, and prevents government programs that financially reward private individuals for reporting covered bus idling violations.
Congressman Langworthy concluded, “We can have responsible environmental stewardship without abandoning all common sense. Transportation providers want to comply with reasonable standards, but a system that encourages people to profit from reporting drivers and creates a patchwork of conflicting rules is definitely not the right approach.”
The legislation has received support from transportation and business organizations, including the American Bus Association, the United Motorcoach Association, and the National Association of Manufacturers.
“Professional bus operators deserve clear, consistent rules that allow them to focus on safety. The BUSES Act provides the certainty our industry needs while protecting the passengers who depend on motorcoach transportation every day,” says Fred Ferguson, President and CEO of the American Bus Association. “Motorcoaches are already one of the most environmentally responsible group transportation options available. They deliver the lowest carbon emissions per passenger mile while helping relieve congestion by moving more people in fewer vehicles. As policymakers look for safe, efficient ways to expand mobility, buses belong at the center of the solution. We thank Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Congressman Nick Langworthy for their bipartisan leadership on this legislation and for recognizing that safety, mobility, and common-sense national standards can go hand in hand. The BUSES Act gives operators the clarity they need to keep passengers safe, comfortable, and moving.”
The bill is expected to receive consideration as part of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s review of Clean Air Act mobile source legislation.
