SECURES Act of 2026

This bill mandates that the Secretary of Transportation publish a notice of proposed rulemaking within 180 days of enactment. This rulemaking is to establish new Federal standards for school bus seat belt requirements on all new school buses, irrespective of their gross vehicle weight rating. In developing these standards, the Secretary must consider the safety benefits of lap/shoulder belt systems , as highlighted by the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The rulemaking should also explore innovative approaches to seat belt detection and reminder systems, and incorporate existing experiences from states that already require seat belts on school buses.