The school transportation sector continues to see policy shifts in early 2026, as new bills are introduced to curb illegal school bus passings, debates continue on electric school bus mandates and seat belts, and new governing rules on public charter schools take effect.

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

New North Dakota Charter School Rules Taking Effect

North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction Levi Bachmeier said new state rules governing public, tax-supported charter schools will take effect April 1, “opening the way for supporters to offer their ideas for charter schools.”

According to a release, the regulations, which were adopted after the North Dakota Legislature authorized public charter schools in April 2025, ensure academic and budget accountability for charters and specify that any special education students in charter schools must be provided services. These regulations were part of a package that also affect school bus standards, special education, school district cooperative agreements, and school building assessments.

North Dakota is the 47th state to authorize charter schools, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

The new state law, SB2241, requires charter school developers to negotiate “performance agreements” with the state superintendent of public instruction, which will set academic performance expectations and regulate how schools are operated and governed.

The charter school application process must include a public meeting with each charter school applicant, allowing “state officials and the public to ask questions.” Given the logistical demands for starting a charter school, North Dakota’s first charters are not expected to open until the fall of 2027.

“North Dakota families are asking for more choices in the education of their children,” Bachmeier said. “This new law and rules offer the opportunity for more choices, while ensuring that the foundational rules that govern our public schools, from financial transparency to instructional access for students with disabilities, are fairly and equally applied to public charters.”

Legislation Introduced in New York to Strengthen School Transportation Safety

New York Senator James Sanders Jr. announced new legislation (S3071A) to establish a statewide Task Force on Safety in School Transportation, a comprehensive effort to examine and improve the policies that protect students traveling to and from school each day.

According to a release, the bill responds to “concerns about student safety, including tragic incidents in recent years that underscore the need for stronger oversight, clearer protocols, and modernized safety standards.”

“Every parent deserves to know that when their child steps onto a school bus, they are protected by the strongest safety measures possible,” Sen. Sanders said. “This task force will bring together experts, state leaders, and community voices to take a hard look at our current system and recommend meaningful improvements. Our children’s safety must always be a top priority.”

Kentucky Bills Aimed at Keeping Students Safe

Kentucky lawmakers are advancing bills to catch illegal school bus passings and criminalize grooming. House Bill 7, sponsored by Rep. David Hale, would allow districts to install stop-arm cameras on school buses to capture footage of drivers passing a stopped bus with its stop arm activated. Fines would be determined by law enforcement for drivers caught on video passing a school bus with its stop arm in use.

According to the Courier Journal, in a committee hearing, “Hale cited a survey that found about 1,300 violations occurred in a single day, according to bus drivers who were asked to track them.” However, critics have said the legislation could open the door for “more cameras in public spaces.”

Similar legislation has been proposed in the past, but has never passed into law in Frankfort. A Senate committee added a substitute to the bill, clarifying that recordings be used only to enforce illegal passing and traffic violations. The bill passed out of committee and was given its first reading on the Senate floor on March 19.

House Bill 4, filed by Marianne Proctor, would create a new section of Kentucky law to define and criminalize grooming. The bill seeks to classify grooming as a Class A misdemeanor if the perpetrator is 18 years or older and the victim is less than 14 years old, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and up to $500 in fines. If the victim is under age 12, grooming would be considered a Class D felony, punishable by one to five years in jail.

Grooming would also be considered a Class D felony if the perpetrator is in a position of authority, such as a teacher or coach, and the victim is under 18. The bill has received strong bipartisan support, with more than three dozen representatives signing on as co-sponsors. HB 4 unanimously passed on the House floor in February and had its first reading on the Senate floor on March 19.

Missouri Bill To Increase School Bus Stop-Arm Fines Advances

A Missouri bill aimed at increasing fines for illegal stop-arm passing is moving forward in the legislative process. House Bill 2742, sponsored by Rep. Mike Jones, would significantly increase penalties for stop-arm violations and has been sent to the Missouri Senate for consideration.

Under the proposal:

• First-time fines would increase to at least $500.
• Repeat offenses could climb into the thousands of dollars within a five-year period.
• Drivers could face license suspension and points added to their record.
• School districts could install stop-arm cameras to catch violators.

According to KSHB 41, the penalty for passing a stopped school bus in Missouri is about $130.50, which “supporters argue is not enough to deter dangerous behavior.” The bill has been through a third reading and passed through the House, and is now heading to the Missouri Senate.

School Bus Safety Law Passes in Minnesota House

A recent Minnesota bill meant to strengthen bus safety would update the language to require vehicles to stop for a school bus once its red lights are flashing, regardless of whether its stop sign arm has been fully extended.

According to CBS News, the bill also includes language that says “a bus's flashing amber lights serve as a warning that flashing red lights are coming soon.”

"This is a straightforward fix to a serious safety issue," said Rep. Keith Allen, who represents part of southern Minnesota, including Owatonna, Faribault, and Waseca. "Students should never be put at risk on their way to school because of a gap in the law.

Allen authored the bill, which passed in the Minnesota House on Monday, March 23, with a 133-0 vote. Next, it'll head to the governor's desk for signature into law.

Debate Over New York’s Electric School Bus Mandate Continues

A proposed amendment that would have repealed New York State’s electric school bus mandate was voted down in the Senate on Monday, March 23. According to RochesterFirst, the amendment, sponsored by Sen. George Borrello, would have authorized NYSERDA to study the “feasibility of converting to zero-emission vehicles.”

Currently, the state is requiring districts to only purchase electric school buses starting in 2027, with the entire fleet transitioned by 2035. In some cases, the state is allowing districts to apply for a two-year waiver, while other districts face backlash from taxpayers voting down electric school bus purchases.

The Naples Central School District recently publicly stated it would be “impractical and frankly impossible” to make such a transition.

Tennessee Lawmaker Proposes School Bus Seat Belts Following Deadly Crash

Following a deadly crash in Tennessee on Friday, March 27, involving a Kenwood Middle School bus and multiple vehicles, Sen. Mark Pody is proposing legislation to increase school bus safety with products such as seat belts.

Authorities say the school bus crash took the lives of two students out of 25 on board, and about seven other people were injured. Due to the compartmentalized design of school bus interiors, most school buses do not have seat belts, and for some, this raises questions about whether that would have made a difference in this tragedy.

Sen. Pody believes they would have, including the integration of lane keeping assist systems. According to News Channel 9, Sen. Pody intends to file the new school bus safety bill for the next legislative session.