SECURES Act of 2026

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.

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