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School Bus Safety Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1828| House 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Democratic Representative

Tennessee

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Highways and Transit Subcommittee, Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue new rules significantly enhancing school bus safety. Within one year, the Secretary must require school buses over 10,000 pounds to have 3-point safety belts at each designated seating position, alongside comprehensive fire protection measures. These fire safety mandates include fire suppression systems for engine fires, improved firewall standards, and more rigorous interior flammability and smoke emission standards comparable to those for aircraft or train compartments. Further safety equipment requirements include automatic emergency braking systems , event data recorders , and electronic stability control systems for all school buses. The bill also mandates at least eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction for school bus operators and requires federal agencies to finalize rulemaking on obstructive sleep apnea for safety-sensitive personnel. Additionally, the legislation calls for studies on advanced safety technologies, such as motion-activated detection systems for pedestrians and bicyclists, and systems to alert operators if passengers are not wearing 3-point safety belts, with potential future rulemaking. To support the adoption of these safety upgrades, a grant program will be established within one year of enactment. This program will provide grants to States, which will then offer subgrants to local educational agencies. These subgrants will assist in purchasing new school buses equipped with the required safety features or modifying existing buses to include them, facilitating widespread implementation of the enhancements.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3959
School Bus Safety Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3381
School Bus Safety Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-10022
School Bus Safety Act of 2023
Mar 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-828
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3959
    School Bus Safety Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3381
    School Bus Safety Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-10022
    School Bus Safety Act of 2023


  • March 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-828
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Transportation and Public Works

Related Bills

  • S 119-828: School Bus Safety Act of 2025

School Bus Safety Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1828| House 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue new rules significantly enhancing school bus safety. Within one year, the Secretary must require school buses over 10,000 pounds to have 3-point safety belts at each designated seating position, alongside comprehensive fire protection measures. These fire safety mandates include fire suppression systems for engine fires, improved firewall standards, and more rigorous interior flammability and smoke emission standards comparable to those for aircraft or train compartments. Further safety equipment requirements include automatic emergency braking systems , event data recorders , and electronic stability control systems for all school buses. The bill also mandates at least eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction for school bus operators and requires federal agencies to finalize rulemaking on obstructive sleep apnea for safety-sensitive personnel. Additionally, the legislation calls for studies on advanced safety technologies, such as motion-activated detection systems for pedestrians and bicyclists, and systems to alert operators if passengers are not wearing 3-point safety belts, with potential future rulemaking. To support the adoption of these safety upgrades, a grant program will be established within one year of enactment. This program will provide grants to States, which will then offer subgrants to local educational agencies. These subgrants will assist in purchasing new school buses equipped with the required safety features or modifying existing buses to include them, facilitating widespread implementation of the enhancements.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3959
School Bus Safety Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3381
School Bus Safety Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-10022
School Bus Safety Act of 2023
Mar 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-828
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3959
    School Bus Safety Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3381
    School Bus Safety Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-10022
    School Bus Safety Act of 2023


  • March 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-828
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Democratic Representative

Tennessee

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Highways and Transit Subcommittee, Education and Workforce Committee

Transportation and Public Works

Related Bills

  • S 119-828: School Bus Safety Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted