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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBig yellow school buses could become rolling billboards in a bill approved by the Indiana Senate.
The bill would allow advertising on school buses in two Indianapolis neighborhoods and a school district just north of the city to help combat burdensome transportation costs.
The ads would give cash-strapped school districts a way to raise revenue without increasing taxes.
The bill passed the Senate 49-0 as part of an amendment to another bill, the Indianapolis Star reported. It now goes to the House.
One of the districts affected would be Indianapolis' Franklin Township schools, a district that drew the ire of parents when it started charging for bus rides. The plan was later dropped.
The pilot plan would also allow school bus ads in Beech Grove and Zionsville.
The legislation prohibits political advertising, inappropriate images or the marketing of harmful or offensive products such as tobacco or alcohol.
Colorado became the first school to allow school bus advertising in 1993, the Kokomo Tribune reported. Since then, 10 other states have followed.
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