School transportation systems across the country are facing significant policy shifts in early 2026, as new laws, budget decisions, and legal actions begin to reshape how student transportation is managed.

Recent proposals include stricter driver penalty structures, a lawsuit challenging the reliability of special education transportation, new bills and funding cuts, and the introduction of a state-specific stop-arm camera enforcement program.

Below is a roundup of several school transportation laws and initiatives moving forward in early 2026.

New York DMV Point System Changes Could Impact School Bus Fleets

Beginning February 16, 2026, New York State implemented significant changes to its DMV driver point system, expected to increase license suspensions by approximately 40%. The changes expand the point “lookback” period from 18 months to 24 months and raise point values for several violations, making it easier for drivers to reach enforcement thresholds.

For school bus fleets, the most notable update is the increase in points for passing a stopped school bus, which will rise from 5 points to 8 points for violations occurring on or after Feb. 16.

Other changes that may affect school transportation professionals include:

• New 11-point violations for driving while suspended or revoked and certain alcohol- or drug-related offenses (previously assessed at 0 points).
• Speeding in work zones increases from 5 to 8 points.
• Failure to exercise due care increases from 2 to 5 points.
• Expanded DMV enforcement actions beginning at 4–6 points (warning letters) and formal hearings at 11+ points within a 24-month window.
• A formal hearing may also be triggered at 9+ speeding points, even if a safety course is completed.

Because school bus drivers operate under stricter safety and employment standards, accumulating higher-point violations, especially under the longer 24-month aggregation period, could affect driver eligibility, retention, and compliance requirements for districts and contractors.

The Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee calculation window remains 18 months, but the expanded lookback for enforcement actions may create additional exposure for professional drivers.

Indiana Lawmakers Consider School Bus Advertising, Safety Penalties & Transportation Board Updates

The Student Transportation Association of Indiana noted several Indiana bills introduced by Mike LaRocco, the Department of Education's director of transportation, that could impact school transportation and student safety if approved this session.

House Bill 1059 would allow school corporations to sell commercial advertising space on school buses, limited to two ads per bus on the rear quarter panels with specific size restrictions. Districts would be required to adopt local policies outlining content guidelines. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and is awaiting a hearing.

Senate Bill 62 would enhance penalties for unlawful firearm possession by a child, making it a Level 5 felony if the offense occurs on school property, within 500 ft. of school grounds, or on a school bus. The measure is currently under consideration in the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.

Senate Bill 86 proposes updates to local transportation boards that coordinate services among public, non-public, and charter schools. It would revise board structure requirements and clarify how certain transportation statutes apply to charter schools. The bill remains in the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development.

All three measures are in early committee stages, with hearings and votes still pending as the legislative session moves toward its expected conclusion at the end of February.

Federal Judge Allows Lawsuit Over D.C. Special Education Bus Service to Proceed

A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit against Washington, D.C., can proceed, allowing parents to challenge the city’s special education transportation policies. The suit alleges the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has failed to provide safe and reliable bus service for students with disabilities, citing chronic delays and a lack of tracking technology.

According to 7News, the lawsuit seeks systemic reforms, including improved oversight and modern bus-tracking technology to replace paper-based systems.

OSSE told 7News it is committed to improvement, reporting a 91% on-time performance rate this school year and announcing a new contract to equip all special education buses with GPS-enabled tablets that will allow parents to track routes in real time.

Proposed Kentucky GOP Budget Would Cut School Transportation Funding by $40 Million

A proposed Kentucky GOP state budget would cut school transportation funding by nearly $40 million, about a 10% decrease from the current year. School superintendents told lawmakers that underfunding transportation through Kentucky’s SEEK funding formula forces districts to divert money from classroom instruction to cover busing costs.

According to Louisville Public Media and Superintendent John Siler of southeastern Whitley County Schools, in past years, when transportation was only partially funded, districts had to rely on general funds, reducing resources for instructional technology and teacher salaries.

Siler said his district had to cover a $900,000 transportation shortfall in fiscal year 2025. He warned that continued underfunding limits districts’ ability to replace aging buses and invest in teacher recruitment and retention. Some buses in his district date back to 2008, exceeding the Kentucky Department of Education’s recommended 15-year replacement cycle.

Lawmakers noted that while the current two-year budget fully funded school transportation in its second year, the first time in over two decades the state met its legal obligation, both the GOP proposal and Governor Andy Beshear’s plan fall short of the estimated $89 million annually needed for full funding, while House Democrats propose maintaining current levels. At the same time, rising costs are adding pressure, with the price of a 52-passenger school bus climbing from about $130,800 in 2022 to more than $160,000 this year.

Utah Bill Aims to Provide Internet Access on Rural School Bus Routes

Utah State Representative Tiara Auxier has introduced House Bill 462, which would create a grant program to provide internet access on school buses in rural districts.

The proposal aims to help students in grades 7–12 use long bus rides, which are defined as trips exceeding one hour one-way, to complete homework, particularly those traveling long distances for sports and extracurricular activities.

Auxier told KUTV 2News that the plan would fund connectivity on two buses per rural district using routers or Starlink, in partnership with the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, while maintaining school-based internet filtering on student Chromebooks.

Under the bill, the grant would cover the cost of equipping the buses and operating the service for one year. After that, participating districts would be responsible for maintaining the service for at least three additional years.

Some district leaders expressed mixed reactions. North Sanpete School District Superintendent O’Dee Hansen told 2News he supports the concept but noted that ongoing budget cuts may make it difficult to prioritize bus Wi-Fi over other pressing needs. If approved, the program would take effect in July.

Chicopee Launches Massachusetts’ First Citywide School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program

Chicopee, Massachusetts, is set to become the first municipality in the state to launch a citywide school bus stop-arm camera enforcement program, following legislation signed by Governor Maura Healey in January 2025.

The law allows cities and towns to install camera technology on school buses to record vehicles that illegally pass stopped buses while students are boarding or exiting.

The program will be powered by BusPatrol, with recorded violations submitted to local law enforcement for review. Chicopee officials told WBUR that a pilot program in Peabody found that buses were illegally passed more than three times per day on average.

City officials said the technology will be implemented at no upfront cost to taxpayers or school districts, as the program is funded through fines paid by violators. Under state law, any images or videos that do not document a violation must be deleted within 30 days, unless a court orders otherwise.