School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Seat Belt Bills Proposed in Multiple States

Lawmakers in Illinois, Utah, and Washington are among those considering legislation that would require school buses bought after a certain date to be equipped with seat belts.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
January 30, 2017
Seat Belt Bills Proposed in Multiple States

Lawmakers in Illinois, Utah, and Washington are among those considering bills that would require school buses bought after a certain date to be equipped with seat belts.

2 min to read


Lawmakers in Illinois, Utah, and Washington are among those considering bills that would require school buses bought after a certain date to be equipped with seat belts.

Illinois, Utah, and Washington are among states considering legislation that would require school buses to be equipped with seat belts.

In Illinois, Sen. Ira Silverstein is sponsoring SB75, which, as of July 1, 2017, would require all new school buses to have seat belts for each passenger.

Ad Loading...

SB75 would also require that the state board of education put rules in place to ensure that school districts require all passengers aboard the buses wear seat belts, but school bus drivers would not be liable for the failure of passengers to wear the belts.

Meanwhile, Utah Rep. Craig Hall has sponsored HB132, which would require any new school buses purchased after June 30, 2017, to be equipped with lap-shoulder seat belts. As with SB75 in Illinois, school bus drivers as well as other school district employees would not be liable for injury that resulted from “a passenger’s use, nonuse, or misuse” of a seat belt. Unlike the Illinois bill, HB132 would not require ensuring use of the belts.

The Utah bill passed through the House Transportation Committee and is headed toward the full House of Representatives, according to Deseret News.

However, some committee members raised concerns about what they called an unfunded mandate. One representative said he would like for school districts to be able to apply for state funding for seat belts, Deseret News reports. Hall said that a resolution from Rep. Steve Handy that requests use of $20 million of the state’s share from the legal settlement with Volkswagen could help with seat belt costs, according to the newspaper.

Additionally, Washington state’s Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing last week on Senate Bill 5054, which would also require that school buses purchased after the bill goes into effect be equipped with seat belts for all passengers, The Associated Press reports. However, Brian Lang, a former school bus driver, opposed the bill at the hearing, saying that the responsibility to make sure all the passengers use the belts is on the driver, according to the news source. Sen. Michael Baumgartner said that the responsibility should be removed from the drivers.

Ad Loading...

More than a dozen other states are considering similar measures, according to The Associated  Press.

The legislative proposals follow the school bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in November in which six students were killed.

More Safety

A compilation of 3 images showing a computer monitor, a person holding a smartphone, and a female on the phone
Sponsored•November 1, 2026

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible

Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.

Read More →
Vehicle dashboard display showing a “Caution: School Bus Stopped Ahead” warning from HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud system, designed to alert motorists to stopped school buses.
Safety•October 29, 2026

HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses

Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.

Read More →
Four women participate in a council meeting around a wooden conference table, with one speaking while the others listen. Laptops, notebooks, and drinks sit on the table.
Safety•by News/Media Release•October 23, 2026

HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council

More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School Bus Fleet graphic showing students boarding a yellow school bus with the headline “Senate Recognized National School Bus Safety Month for 13th Year.”
Safety•by Elora Haynes•October 22, 2026

What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation

The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.

Read More →
Close-up of a stop-arm enforcement camera mounted on a yellow school bus, with the headline “When Enforcement Drives Safety” and the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•October 20, 2026

School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs

Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.

Read More →
Yellow school bus lying on its side after a rollover crash, with the headline “After the Crash” and subtitle “What to Do & What Matters Most,” alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safety•October 20, 2026

Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.

A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School Bus Fleet graphic showing a school bus safety inspection in the background, with the headline “2026 National School Bus Safety Week” in large orange and white lettering.
Safety•by Elora Haynes•October 19, 2026

National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe

School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.

Read More →
Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text “Multi-Vehicle Crash in FL Takes 2 Lives” and the date October 5, 2026.
Safety•by Staff and News Reports•October 6, 2026

2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash

A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.

Read More →
Close-up of an extended red stop arm with flashing lights on the side of a yellow school bus.
Safety•by Elora Haynes•September 21, 2026

Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts

With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic showing a yellow school crossing sign and blurred school bus with the headline, “The Back-to-School Traffic Effect.”
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•September 18, 2026

School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction

What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.

Read More →