Relating to seat belts on buses that transport children, the official text

S.B. No. 546

AN ACT

relating to seat belts on buses that transport children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (f), (g), (g-1),

and (h) to read as follows:

(e) In this subsection, "bus" includes a school bus, school

activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, or

school-chartered bus. Except as otherwise provided by this

subsection, a [A] bus operated by or contracted for use by a school

district for the transportation of schoolchildren shall be equipped

with a three-point seat belt for each passenger, including the

operator. This subsection does not apply to:

(1) a bus operated by or contracted for use [purchased

by a school district that is a model year 2017 or earlier; or

[(2) a bus purchased] by a school district [that is a

model year 2018 or later] if the board of trustees for the school

district[:

[(A)] determines that the district's budget does

not permit the district to purchase a bus that is equipped with the

seat belts required by this subsection; or

(2) a bus for which the warranty would become void if

the bus were equipped to comply with this subsection[; and

[(B) votes to approve that determination in a

public meeting].

(f) Not later than the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the

board of trustees of a school district that makes a determination

under Subsection (e)(1) shall submit to the Texas Education Agency

and present in a public meeting of the board a report that includes:

(1) the number of buses operated by or contracted for

use by the district that:

(A) are not equipped with seat belts;

(B) are equipped with two-point seat belts; and

(C) are equipped with three-point seat belts; and

(2) the estimated cost to the district to equip with

three-point seat belts each bus operated by or contracted for use by

the district that is not equipped with three-point seat belts as

required by Subsection (e).

(g) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Texas Education

Agency shall:

(1) collect the information submitted under

Subsection (f);

(2) calculate the total amount of financial assistance

needed for all school districts to come into full compliance with

Subsection (e); and

(3) summarize and make available to the governor, the

lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

and each member of the legislature the information described by

Subdivisions (1) and (2).

(g-1) This subsection and Subsections (f) and (g) expire

January 1, 2028.

(h) A school district may accept gifts, grants, and

donations from any public or private source to implement the

requirements of Subsection (e).

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 547.701(e),

Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, a school district is

not required to comply with that subsection before September 1,

2029.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 546 passed the Senate on

April 22, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 546 passed the House on

May 27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 104, Nays 38, two

present not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor