Florida Enacts Law Requiring School Buses for Students in Hazardous Areas Including St. Johns

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new law requiring school districts statewide to provide bus transportation for students living in areas deemed hazardous for walking or biking to school, effective July 1. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Kim Kendall, addresses dangerous conditions such as narrow sidewalks, roads with high speed limits, and uncurbed paths close to traffic, with a particular focus on communities like St. Johns Forest near Liberty Pines Academy. This move responds to numerous accidents, including overturned vehicles and pedestrian risks along roads like 9B and St. Johns Parkway, where students have previously faced unsafe commutes. The law expands the criteria for hazardous routes, ensuring students who previously lacked bus service due to proximity to school will now be provided safer transportation options. Local school officials have begun assessing the impact of the law to implement required bus routes, with Kendall emphasizing the collaborative effort with parents and community members to enhance student safety. This legislation reflects a direct response to years of community advocacy and documented traffic incidents threatening student safety on their way to school.