School Bus Safety Act Mandates 3-Point Seat Belts, Automatic Braking, and Fire Suppression on New Buses

The “School Bus Safety Act of 2025” is basically a massive safety overhaul for the big yellow buses our kids ride every day. Instead of just tinkering around the edges, this bill goes straight for the biggest safety upgrades, mandating technology and features that have been standard in passenger cars for years.

Within one year of the bill becoming law, the Secretary of Transportation must issue new rules requiring 3-point safety belts at every seat on school buses weighing over 10,000 pounds (SEC. 3). But it doesn't stop there. All new buses manufactured or imported after the rules take effect must also include high-tech gear like automatic emergency braking systems and event data recorders (EDRs), which are essentially the bus’s black box. They also have to have electronic stability control systems. Think of it this way: the next generation of school buses will have the same safety tech you expect in a modern SUV, but on a massive scale.

The Seat Belt Mandate: From Lap Belts to Full Protection

For parents, the biggest change is the seat belt requirement. The bill specifically defines the requirement as a "3-point safety belt," which is the standard shoulder-and-lap belt assembly (SEC. 2). This is a huge shift from the current standard, which often relies on compartmentalization or just lap belts. This mandate applies to all seats on new buses over 10,000 pounds—which is most of the fleet. For a bus driver, this means a safer environment, but it also means new operational procedures for ensuring every kid buckles up.

Upgrading Fire Safety and Driver Training

Beyond seat belts, the bill tackles two critical, often overlooked areas: fire safety and driver competency. On the fire front, new rules must be issued to require engine fire suppression systems and updated firewalls to prevent flames or gas from entering the passenger area (SEC. 3). This is a direct response to concerns about engine fires, especially on older buses. Furthermore, the materials used inside the bus—the seats, the walls, the flooring—will now have to meet the same stringent flammability and smoke standards currently applied to passenger airplanes and train cars (SEC. 3).

On the human side, the bill increases the required training for school bus drivers. They will now need a minimum of 8 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel training on public roads (SEC. 3). This ensures that drivers aren't just passing tests in a parking lot; they are getting real-world experience under the eye of a qualified instructor. For the busy transportation department, this means a more rigorous, time-intensive training program, but ultimately, better-prepared drivers.

Making the Upgrade Affordable: The Grant Program

Mandates are great, but they often come with a hefty price tag for cash-strapped school districts. Recognizing this, the Act establishes a new Safety Grant Program (SEC. 5). This program is designed to help state and local school districts pay for two things: buying brand new buses that already meet all the new safety requirements, or retrofitting their existing fleet with 3-point belts and other required safety features. The bill authorizes funding to be appropriated to run this program.

This grant is the critical piece that makes the transition feasible for districts. Without it, the cost of replacing or upgrading thousands of buses could be crippling. However, it’s important to note that the funding is only authorized to be appropriated, meaning Congress still has to allocate the actual money. If the grants fall short, districts and local taxpayers will bear the cost of the mandated safety improvements.

What’s Next: Pedestrian Detection and Seat Belt Alerts

Finally, the bill looks to the future by requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct two studies within two years (SEC. 4). The first study will look at mandating motion-activated detection systems that warn drivers if a pedestrian or cyclist is near the bus—a crucial safety feature for preventing accidents around the bus stop. The second study focuses on whether buses should have a system that alerts the driver if a passenger isn't wearing their new 3-point safety belt. After these studies are done, NHTSA has one year to issue rules requiring the pedestrian detection systems, potentially making it the next big mandate for new buses.