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

When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →

