The Alaska House of Representatives voted 33-7 Tuesday to approve additional funding for pupil transportation, targeting relief for school districts facing steep fuel cost increases.

Amendment 31 directs money through the existing statutory transportation formula. Supporters said it would help districts across the state cope with diesel prices that have climbed 55 percent to 65 percent in recent months. The increase applies to all qualifying transportation costs, including flights used by rural districts to move students between communities.

Representatives from road-system districts said the funding addresses a critical gap. Mat-Su Borough School District operates one of the largest bus fleets in Alaska, with students sometimes riding more than an hour each way. The Kenai Peninsula Borough recently closed four schools, requiring longer bus routes for displaced students. Fairbanks North Star Borough has been using general fund money to cover transportation shortfalls for years.

But two representatives from western Alaska opposed the amendment, saying their districts would see less benefit because students do not typically take buses to school. One said the change makes an already unfair funding system worse.

The amendment's sponsor confirmed during floor debate that legislative staff verified the funds can be used for alternate transportation modes, including air travel. The distribution formula is designed to pass federal equity tests, the sponsor said. The federal disparity test score would remain well below the 25-point threshold that triggers compliance concerns.

Several members acknowledged the amendment does not solve underlying problems with how Alaska funds school transportation. One called it a stopgap while a broader education funding overhaul is developed. Another said the state should calculate transportation costs with a clear formula rather than appropriating one-time money each year.

The vote broke along geographic lines, with support concentrated among representatives from road-connected districts and opposition from rural areas. The measure now moves forward as part of the operating budget.