Substitute Senate Bill No. 235 aims to improve driver education and enhance student safety by implementing new requirements for driving schools and driver education programs. Key provisions include allowing students to request an instructor of a specific gender for behind-the-wheel instruction, with the option to reschedule without additional fees if the request cannot be met. Additionally, driving schools with websites must display information about their safety measures, such as instructor proficiency testing, annual training, and the use of monitoring systems during instruction. The bill also mandates that behind-the-wheel training includes instruction on safely stopping off the highway and responding to traffic stops by law enforcement.

The bill repeals and replaces existing statutes related to driver education programs in secondary schools, enabling local boards of education and private schools to contract with licensed driving schools for behind-the-wheel instruction. It requires classroom instruction to cover highway work zone safety and actions to take when encountering vehicles driving in the wrong direction, while allowing a combination of in-person and distance learning. The bill deletes outdated provisions and introduces new instructional requirements, modernizing the driver education framework in the state, with changes set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 14-78, 14-36f
TRA Joint Favorable Substitute: 14-78, 14-36f
File No. 452: 14-78, 14-36f