Texas Mandates Three-Point Belts on All School Buses

Texas lawmakers are pushing to enhance school bus safety by mandating three-point lap and shoulder seatbelts on all school buses through Senate Bill 546, authored by State Sen. José Menéndez. This bill comes after a tragic accident involving a bus without seatbelts, which resulted in the loss of a child in Bastrop County. Initially, the bill allowed poorer districts to use cheaper two-point lap belts, but this has been revised to require three-point belts for all buses, regardless of age. Districts unable to comply due to financial constraints must submit a public plan to the Texas Education Agency outlining their implementation strategy within a four-year window. The bill aims to expand on a 2017 law that requires seatbelts on newly manufactured buses and seeks to ensure all districts are equipped to protect students adequately. This legislative effort underscores the importance of school bus safety and the need for state support in achieving compliance.