House Bill 1790 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to school bus transportation. Notably, it raises the minimum age requirement for applicants seeking to drive a school bus from the previous standard to at least twenty-three (23) years of age. Additionally, the bill removes a subsection that previously existed in Section 55-50-302 and modifies Section 49-6-2107 to allow local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to establish their own policies regarding the qualifications of school bus drivers, emphasizing the safety and health of school pupils.

The changes aim to enhance the safety standards for school bus drivers by ensuring that only more mature individuals are eligible for the position, while also granting local authorities the flexibility to set specific qualifications. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, contingent upon the public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-50-302(d), 55-50-302, 49-6-2107