School bus passing bill fails
“Nathan’s Law” would have increased penalties for stop-arm running in Mississippi. The bill was name for a 5-year-old who was killed by a passing motorist after getting off his bus in December. His parents say they’ll keep pushing for the change.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — A bill that would have increased penalties for stop-arm running died in the state Legislature on Saturday, but supporters said they will keep pushing for the change.
The legislation was dubbed “Nathan’s Law,” for a 5-year-old who was killed by a passing motorist after getting off his bus in December.
As it was introduced, Nathan’s Law would have hit first-time offenders with raised fines of $500 to $5,000, and their driver’s license would have been suspended for 30 days. For any subsequent offense, the bill would have increased penalties to $800 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, and license suspension for 90 days.
Among other provisions of the bill, a stop-arm violation resulting in the death or injury of a child would have been a newly defined felony, and the offender could have been sentenced up to five years in prison and fined up to $5,000.
However, supporters of the legislation accused a House committee chair of weakening it, and a final version could not be agreed upon.
Nathan’s parents, Lori and Andy Key, and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant were among supporters who said the push to pass Nathan’s Law would continue.
"We're not gonna stop fighting for the children of Mississippi," Lori Key told reporters. "They all deserve the respect of drivers, and they depend on us to make sure they're safe."
More Safety

The Driver Shortage Playbook
How student transportation fleets are hiring, retaining and adapting .
Read More →
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
