SPONSOR: Reedy
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education by a vote of 18 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative by a vote of 12 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 2195.
This bill creates the "Missouri Integrated Safe Driving Program" and provides that the Program will inform pupils about requirements for obtaining driving permits, emphasis on the knowledge, attitudes, habits, and skills necessary to safely operate a vehicle, instruct on distracted driving and traffic stops, and provide data on driver safety and risky behavior. The Program will also provide instructions on safety concerns relating to pedestrians, commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles and potentially hazardous encounters on the road.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will receive and vet lessons from districts and professional organizations that will integrate the tenants of the safe driving program into courses that students are taking.
Beginning in the 2027-28 school year districts can adopt a plan to implement and use lessons. The instruction does not require physical operation of a vehicle and the bill does not prohibit schools from offering additional driver education courses.
This bill is similar to HCS HB 248 (2025).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill will have zero fiscal impact as it merely requires the creation of lessons on driver safety that can be integrated into the school curriculum. Having better, safer teen drivers is important as they are currently at the most risk for fatal accidents. Adding additional traffic law compliance pieces and a focus on pedestrian and motorcycle safety is also important. Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Reedy; Kimberly St Clair, Doc Dash Global, Inc; Jackson Hotaling, Missourians For Responsible Transportation; Nicholas Chabarria, AAA Missouri; Deanna Rhodes-Widmer; Joe Widmer, Freedom of Road Riders, Inc.; Missouri Insurance Coalition; and ABATE for Missouri;
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say that in the last three years there as been a decrease in traffic fatalities but teen drivers are still the leading contributors with 12% of fatal crashes. Teen drivers only have, at times, 48 months of experience and often make poor decisions. Education is important and this is a fiscally efficient effort that can be beneficial.
Testifying in person on the bill was Joe Jones, Missouri Department of Transportation.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: