SECURES Act of 2026
House Bill Would Require 3-Point Seat Belts on All New School Buses
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The Department of Transportation would be required to start the process of making seat belts mandatory on all new school buses. This would apply to all new buses regardless of their size or weight, ensuring every student has the same level of protection.
- The focus is on "three-point" seat belts, which wrap over the shoulder and across the lap. Safety experts have found that these belts provide the best protection by keeping a child's whole body secure during a crash or sudden stop.
- The government will also look at new technology, like sensors that alert the driver when a student isn't buckled in. They will study the experiences of states that already require seat belts to see what works best for keeping kids safe.
- If passed, the Department of Transportation would have 180 days to publish the proposed rules. This move aims to address findings from safety boards that current bus designs without belts allow for too much body movement during accidents.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Small bus manufacturers and private school bus contractors could face increased costs to redesign and produce buses that meet new seat belt standards. However, companies that already make seat belt systems or detection technology could see new business opportunities. The net effect depends on how the final rule is written and what transition period is allowed.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
New Jersey's school bus seat belt law should go national, Rep. Josh Gottheimer says
New Jersey's school bus seat belt law should go national, Rep. Josh Gottheimer says
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SECURES Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(2)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.