School Bus Safety Act of 2025
School Bus Safety Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# School Bus Safety Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill would do:** The School Bus Safety Act of 2025 would require the Department of Transportation to establish new safety standards for school buses and create a grant program to help schools implement these requirements. The bill mandates that school buses be equipped with several safety features, including three-point seatbelts for all seats, automatic emergency braking systems, fire suppression systems, improved firewall protection between the engine and passenger area, event data recorders (similar to airplane "black boxes"), and electronic stability control. Additionally, the bill would require school bus drivers to complete at least eight hours of specialized behind-the-wheel training. **Who it affects:** This legislation would primarily affect school districts and bus operators across the country, as well as students who ride school buses.
It would also impact the Department of Transportation and related federal agencies responsible for setting and enforcing these new standards. **Current status:** The bill was introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill has not yet been enacted into law.
CRS Official Summary
School Bus Safety Act of 2025This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue rules requiring school buses to have certain safety features. DOT must also establish a grant program to assist in the implementation of the requirements.Specifically, DOT must issue rules requiring school buses to includethree-point safety belts for all seats,a fire suppression system which addresses engine fires,a firewall between the engine and passenger compartment that prevents hazardous quantities of gas or flames from passing through the firewall,increased performance standards for interior flammability and smoke emissions,an automatic emergency braking system,an event data recorder, andan electronic stability control system.DOT must also require at least eight hours of behind-the-wheel training for school bus operators that meets specified requirements.Further, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) must issue rules on the evaluation of safety sensitive personnel for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.NHTSA must also study the benefits of requiring school buses manufactured in, or imported into, the United States to be equipped with a motion-activated detection system that is capable of detecting road users (e.g., pedestrians and bicyclists) and alerting the bus operator of their presence. NHTSA must issue rules implementing such a requirement.Finally, DOT must establish a grant program to assist local educational agencies in (1) purchasing school buses equipped with three-point safety belts or any of the other safety features required under this bill, and (2) modifying existing school buses.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.