The commercialization of our schools could get a lot worse in the coming months.

Currently, only Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico allow advertising on the exterior of school buses. Some others allow ad inside school buses. But more states are considering overturning their long-standing prohibitions on school bus ads in a misguided attempt to solve their budget deficits. The financial plight of schools is extremely worrisome, but turning school buses into traveling billboards for everything from fast food to violent and sexualized media is not the answer.

Please click on the links below to check out the status of school bus advertising in your state. (If it is no listed then your state is not currently considering a bill). Then follow the “Take Action” link to tell your legislators to keep school buses commercial-free.

Select your state: CA - FL - IN - KY - MO - NY - RI - WA

CALIFORNIA: S.B. 1295
AN ACT to add Section 27906.3 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

STATUS: As of 4/26/12, the Senate Education Committee has rejected the bill and it is dead for this legislative session. Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS: This bill would authorize a school district to operate a schoolbus, as defined, upon which the school district has affixed commercial advertisements, notwithstanding any restrictions in law or regulation
regarding the signage that may be affixed on a schoolbus. No type of ads would be prohibited.

BILL TEXT: S.B. 1295

NEXT STEPS: We'll keep you informed if any other bills in the state propose school bus advertising.

FLORIDA: H. 19; S. 348 & S. 344
(to be entitled)

STATUS: As of 3/9/12, S.344 has died in the Budget Subcommittee on Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations; S.348 has died in the Education Pre-K - 12 Committee; and H.19 passed the House but died in the Senate Education Committee. Keep up-to-date with these bills here.

SYNOPSIS: Provides for district school board policies that authorize commercial advertisements on school buses. Ads that would be prohibited are: alcohol and tobacco ads; discriminatory ads; ads that imply or declare endorsement by the school district; sexual material; ads that are not child- and community-sensitive; false, misleading, or deceptive ads; and ads that relate to an illegal or antisocial behavior. Ads for junk food would be allowed.

BILL TEXT: H. 19 / S. 348 / S. 344

NEXT STEPS: We'll keep you informed if any other bills in the state propose school bus advertising.

RECENT PRESS:
Florida Eyes School Bus Ads for Extra Money
Orlando Sentinel, February 1, 2012
Senate advances school bus advertising; ads on toilets next?
Miami Herald, January 19, 2012
Ads on school buses a tacky idea
Florida Times Union, October 6, 2011
Got cash?
Gainesville Sun, October 2, 2011
More press >

INDIANA: S.B. 226
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

STATUS: As of 1/27/12, the language that would have allowed school bus ads has been removed from the bill. Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS: Language before the bill was amended: "Requires the state school bus committee to adopt rules that permit paid advertisements on buses." No types of ads—including junk food and sexualized or violent media—would have been prohibited.

BILL TEXT: S.B. 226

NEXT STEPS: We'll keep you informed if any other bills in the state propose school bus advertising.

KENTUCKY: H.B. 30
AN ACT relating to optional school bus advertising.

STATUS: As of 4/2/12, this bill has has died in the Senate Education Committee. Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS: Creates a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to allow a local school board to sell advertising on school buses; prohibits certain types of advertising; identifies annual reporting requirements. Prohibited ads are: alcohol, tobacco, political ads, and ads for sexually-oriented businesses. Junk food and ads for violent and sexualized media would be allowed.

BILL TEXT: H.B. 30

NEXT STEPS: We'll keep you informed if any other bills in the state propose school bus advertising.

RECENT PRESS:
KY House OKs Advertising on School Buses
WLWT News 5, January 18, 2012
More press >

MISSOURI: H.B. 1273
Requires the State Board of Education to establish rules to authorize school boards to lease advertising on school buses.

STATUS: As of 5/16/12, this bill has died in the Senate Education Committee. Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS: This bill requires the State Board of Education within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to promulgate rules and regulations authorizing local school boards to lease advertising space on the interior and exterior of school buses. It prohibits: advertising containing obscenity, sexual material, gambling, tobacco products, alcohol, political campaigns or causes, public advocacy, or lobbying; advertising that promotes the use of drugs, any illegal activity, or antisocial behavior; advertising that contains general content that is harmful, discriminatory, false, misleading, or deceptive, not age appropriate, or otherwise not appropriate for school buses, as determined by the school board of a local school district; and advertising containing an endorsement, whether actual or implied, by a school district for a product or service. Junk food and ads for violent and media would be allowed.

BILL TEXT: H.B. 1273

NEXT STEPS: We'll keep you informed if any other bills in the state propose school bus advertising.

RECENT PRESS:

Mo. Senate Kills School Bus Ad
CBS St. Louis, May 16, 2012

Bus Advertising Not Best Option for Funding Schools
Joplin Globe, May 5, 2012

Missouri Law Makers Mull Allowing School Bus Ads
Southeast Missourian, April 14, 2012

Missouri House Passes School Bus Ad Bill
STLToday.com, April 5, 20122
More press >

NEW YORK: S. 3229 & A. 7701
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to advertising on the exterior sides of school buses.

STATUS: As of 3/27/12, both bills have been assigned to the Education Committee. Keep up-to-date with S. 3229 here and with A. 7701 here.

SYNOPSIS: Authorizes the board of education of any school district in the state to enter into a contract for the sale of advertising space on the exterior sides of school buses owned or leased by the school district. Ads for tobacco or alcohol products or for political advocacy are prohibited. Ads require prior approval by the local board of education. Revenue is retained by the school district making such contracts, and provisions do not apply to cities with a population of one million or more. Junk food ads and violent or sexualized media ads would be allowed.

BILL TEXT: S. 3229 / A. 7701

>>Take action!

RHODE ISLAND: H.B. 7079, H.B. 7185, S.B. 2183 & S.B. 2184
AN ACT relating to motor and other vehicles—pupil transportation vehicles.

STATUS: As of 3/27/12, the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare heard testimony on H.B. 7079 and recommended the bill be held for further study; H.B. 7185 has been referred to the House Municipal Government Committee; and S.B. 2183 and S.B. 2184 have been referred to the Senate Education Commitee. Keep up-to-date with these bills here.

SYNOPSIS: Would authorize the school committee of any city, town, or regional school district to sell advertising space on school buses and to negotiate with private school bus carriers regarding the content of said advertising. No types of ads—including junk food and sexualized or violent media—would be prohibited.

BILL TEXT: H.B. 7079 / H.B. 7185 / S.B. 2183 / S.B. 2184

>>Take action!

RECENT PRESS:
RI city considering ads on school buses
Associated Press, December 1, 2011
More press >

WASHINGTON: S.B. 5220
AN ACT relating to advertising on school buses and adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW.

STATUS: On 2/24/12 at 5pm, we received confirmation from Senator Rosemary McAuliffe's office that this bill will not move foward this legislative session! See the bill history here.

SYNOPSIS: Allows school districts to place advertising on and in school buses if such advertising is approved by the school district's board of directors. No types of ads—including junk food and sexualized or violent media—would be prohibited.

BILL TEXT: S.B. 5220

NEXT STEPS: We'll keep you informed if any other bills in the state propose school bus advertising.