Is the sixth time a charm for the School Bus Safety Act?
Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee and Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois hope so, but the bill faces the added hurdle of passing both chambers that are controlled by Republicans. The two announced Wednesday the latest iteration: The School Bus Safety Act of 2025.
No bill numbers were available at this report.
The legislation, which most recently was introduced last fall but died, seeks the required installation of three-point seatbelts in all school buses, plus stability control and automatic braking systems, both of which are already being standard equipment on most large school buses.
The bill would also require event data recorders that capture pre- and post-crash data, driver inputs and restraint usage when a collision does occur. The act calls for a fire suppression system, which addresses engine fires and a firewall that prohibits hazardous quantities of gas or flame to pass from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment.
In a statement, Cohen called the safety measures recommended by National Transportation Safety Board “common sense.”
“We’ve seen too many deaths and serious injuries in school bus accidents in Tennessee and elsewhere, and it is past time we act to protect young lives,” he said.
A grant program would provide funding to help school districts meet the mandate.
Related: School Bus Safety Act for Seatbelts Again Introduced in Congress
Related: Blue Bird Announces Standard Lap/Shoulder Seatbelts on All School Buses
Related: NHTSA-Proposed Automatic Emergency Braking Has School Bus Safety Connection
