S.B. No. 546 amends the Transportation Code to mandate that all buses operated by or contracted for use by school districts for transporting schoolchildren must be equipped with three-point seat belts for each passenger, including the operator. However, there are exceptions for buses purchased in model year 2017 or earlier, and for model year 2018 or later if the school district's board of trustees determines that budget constraints prevent the purchase of compliant buses or if equipping the bus would void its warranty. Additionally, the bill requires school districts making such determinations to report to the Texas Education Agency by the end of the 2025-2026 school year, detailing the number of buses with and without seat belts and the estimated costs for compliance.

The Texas Education Agency is tasked with collecting this information and calculating the total financial assistance needed for all school districts to comply with the seat belt requirements by January 1, 2027. The provisions related to reporting and compliance will expire on January 1, 2028. Furthermore, school districts are allowed to accept gifts, grants, and donations to help meet these requirements. Notably, compliance with the seat belt mandate is not required until September 1, 2029, giving districts additional time to adjust to the new regulations. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 547.701 (Transportation Code 547)
Senate Committee Report: Transportation Code 547.701 (Transportation Code 547)
Engrossed: Transportation Code 547.701 (Transportation Code 547)
House Committee Report: Transportation Code 547.701 (Transportation Code 547)
Enrolled: Transportation Code 547.701 (Transportation Code 547)