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Congress·In Committee·21 days ago

Senate Bill Would Require Seat Belts on All New School Buses

Also known as: SECURES Act of 2026

Legislative Progress

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Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill would require the Department of Transportation to start the process of making seat belts mandatory on all new school buses. Within 180 days of the bill becoming law, officials would have to release a formal plan for these new safety rules.
  • The rules would apply to all new school buses, no matter how much they weigh. Currently, federal law only requires seat belts on smaller school buses, while larger buses often rely on padded seats to protect students during a crash.
  • The proposal specifically looks at three-point lap and shoulder belts, which are the same kind found in regular cars. Safety experts say these provide the best protection because they keep a student's upper body from moving too much during an accident.
  • Government officials would also look into new technology for buses, such as sensors that tell the driver if a student isn't buckled up or reminder systems that alert children to put their belts on.
  • This move follows recommendations from national safety boards and the experiences of several states that already require seat belts on their buses. The goal is to create a single safety standard for all children across the country.
Infrastructure Transportation

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 9, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced in Senate

Related News

3 articles
JNS.org·20 days ago

Bills in both houses of Congress aim to make school buses safer

Introduced in February 2026, the SECURES Act would require all school buses to be equipped with three-point lap-and-shoulder seat belts. The bipartisan legislation, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Sen. Cory Booker, aims to set a national safety standard following tragic accidents in New Jersey.

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News 12 New York·21 days ago

New Jersey lawmakers push to improve school bus safety nationwide

Federal lawmakers introduced the SECURES Act in Paramus, pushing for a nationwide requirement of three-point seat belt systems on all school buses. The bill is part of a safety package that includes Miranda's Law, designed to prevent drivers with unsafe records from transporting students.

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WRNJ Radio·over 1 year ago

Gottheimer announces legislation to protect students on school buses

Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced plans to reintroduce the SECURES Act, which requires three-point lap-and-shoulder seat belts on school buses nationwide. The bill seeks to upgrade federal standards to match safety best practices already adopted by a handful of states like New Jersey.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

SECURES Act of 2026

Bill NumberS 3806
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

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Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.