You might be surprised to learn that your tax dollars are used to pay for public school buses to go through toll booths. 

Right now there's an effort by some to end this. 

Representative Linda Stewart wrote House Bill 1331 and on a state level, it would have allowed public school buses to pass through toll booths without paying.

It wasn’t heard this session but it’s not stopping her fight to make changes on the local level.

 Students at Howard Middle School are disappointed a bill they supported did not get heard this legislative session.

13-Year-Old Howard Middle Student Caroline Casola said, “I thought it was pretty basic, but after doing this so much, I’m like wow, it takes a lot.”

The bill would have allowed public school buses to pass through toll booths for free.

The bill was not heard this session, but now the bill’s author, State Representative Linda Stewart said she plans on meeting with Orlando – Orange County Expressway Authorities to convince them to change the rules.

According to the Orlando – Orange County Expressway Authorities – only police, firefighters and other first responders are allowed to pass through tolls without paying.

Some would like to see the same exception for public school buses.

School leaders said it would save $200,000.

 (D) District 47 Representative Linda Stewart said, “I just don’t see any need to send money to the schools and then have them turn around and have them have to send it to a tolling agency.”

Leaders with the Orlando- Orange County Expressway Authority were not available for an on camera interview.

However, they said they don’t oppose the idea of school buses not paying tolls, but they need to look at the issue further with their lawyers.

They are currently under contract with bond holders.

Some fear that if you make the exception for schools, then other government agencies would want to be exempted too.

But Representative Stewart said she plans on meeting with expressway authority along with Orange County School District to talk about the issue.

Representative Stewart said, “We’ll see how it goes otherwise it will be refiled next year.”

Howard Middle School will be watching closely.  

Howard Middle School Teacher Michael Seger said, “If it still gets done locally, I think we did something positive.”

The Osceola County School District told News 13 has an exception in place for their public school buses.

School leaders said the public school buses drivers can use the Osceola Parkway for free but they said they encourage public school bus drivers not to use the toll roads.

Right now there are no set meetings planned between Representative Stewart, the Expressway Authority, and the Orange County School District.