Bus Rolling Stock Modernization Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 660

119th Congress

Bus Rolling Stock Modernization Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 20, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Tina Flint Smith

Senator

Democratic

MN

Cosponsors

3

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Summary

This bill allows transit agencies to use federal grants to make advance payments of up to 20 percent when purchasing buses. This streamlines procurement by eliminating requirements for preapproval and performance bonds on advance payments.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill allows transit agencies to use federal grants to make advance payments of up to 20 percent when purchasing buses. This streamlines procurement by eliminating requirements for preapproval and performance bonds on advance payments.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Bus Rolling Stock Modernization Act of 2025This bill allows a state or local authority (e.g., a transit authority) to use public transportation grants to make a partial advance payment for bus rolling stock (e.g., transit buses). Specifically, a public transportation grant recipient may use grant funds to make an advance payment of not more than 20% of the total purchase order value of a bus rolling stock vehicle without obtaining preapproval or requiring the vehicle manufacturer to provide a performance bond (or other form of security). In order to make an advance payment, the recipient must meet certain requirements. For example, the recipient must have a signed purchase order and an executed contract with a vehicle manufacturer that includes advance payment provisions.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Allows 20 percent advance payment for bus purchases
Uses federal public transportation grant funds
Eliminates preapproval requirement
Removes performance bond requirement for advances
Streamlines transit bus procurement process

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Transit agencies could more easily purchase new buses by making advance payments to manufacturers without bureaucratic delays. This could speed up fleet modernization and help agencies replace aging buses more efficiently.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

660, 119th Congress (2025). "Bus Rolling Stock Modernization Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-660