School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Tennessee School Bus Bills Advance

A bill that would raise the minimum age for new school bus drivers in the state passes unanimously in the House. Another bill that would require restraints on school buses passes a committee vote.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
April 18, 2017
Tennessee School Bus Bills Advance

Two bills that are intended to address school bus safety in the wake of a fatal crash in November have advanced in the Tennessee House of Representatives. One would raise the minimum age for new school bus drivers, and the other would require "a restraint system" on school buses.

2 min to read


Two bills that are intended to address school bus safety in the wake of a fatal crash in November have advanced in the Tennessee House of Representatives. One would raise the minimum age for new school bus drivers, and the other would require "a restraint system" on school buses.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two bills that are intended to address school bus safety in the wake of a fatal crash in November have advanced in the state House of Representatives.

A bill backed by Gov. Bill Haslam, HB 322, which would raise the state’s minimum age for new school bus drivers from 21 to 25, as well as increase oversight of school transportation services and training for new drivers, passed the House unanimously with a vote of 96 to 0 on Monday.

Johnthony Walker, the school bus driver in the Nov. 21 crash in Chattanooga that killed six students and injured 31 students, was 24 at the time. Parents and students had reportedly complained about Walker’s driving before. He was indicted on six counts of vehicular homicide in March and faces several other charges.

HB 322 is similar to another piece of legislation that was introduced by Rep. JoAnne Favors: HB 127. That bill, which also proposed increasing the minimum age requirement for school bus drivers to 25, was removed from consideration in the House Transportation Committee last week.

Meanwhile, HB 395, also introduced by Favors, would require school buses bought after July 1, 2019, to be equipped with “a restraint system” for passengers. That bill passed through the House Education and Administration Planning Committee on Tuesday and has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee.

HB 395 had initially listed July, 1, 2018, as the date for the restraint requirement for new school buses, and it also had a clause that would have required retrofitting of existing school buses, which was recently removed.

HB 395 is opposed by some school districts, bus drivers, and lawmakers, Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, chairwoman of the Transportation Subcommittee, raised concerns about the bill’s costs and the ability of young children to free themselves in the event of a crash or fire, according to the newspaper.

More Safety

School Bus Fleet’s The Route graphic featuring two people alongside the text, “The Secret to Better Bus Driver Training (It’s Not the Curriculum),” sponsored by IC Bus.
Sponsoredby Amanda HuggettSeptember 15, 2026

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program

Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.

Read More →
Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text, “Fatal Accident in a Bus Lot & Students Struck Near Bus Stops, Sept. 8–9, 2026.”
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 13, 2026

Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured

Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.

Read More →
A female school bus driver in bus driver's seat speaking on radio with an inset of female with headphones looking at two monitors and buses in the background
SponsoredSeptember 8, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Firefighters spray water on a smoking Marietta City Schools school bus during a fire response drill.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettSeptember 8, 2026

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 →
Graphic promoting Geotab’s new fleet investigation tool, featuring a screenshot of the MyGeotab platform showing an incident timeline, vehicle activity, and mapped route data.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 1, 2026

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 →
Student-created poster titled “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” shows a yellow school bus at a crosswalk, students waiting nearby, and school bus safety reminders about stopping, school zones, safe pickup and drop-off, and buckling up.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseAugust 31, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Cover of a Pro-Vision whitepaper titled “Doing More With Less: A Transportation Director’s Guide to Managing Safety Budget Uncertainty,” featuring school buses, a school transportation scene, and safety technology imagery.
SponsoredAugust 27, 2026

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 →
A Gatekeeper Systems camera mounted on the side of a school bus.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 26, 2026

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 →
Avigilon camera installation at Hamilton Township School District, New Jersey, with text reading "How to Build a More Secure School Bus Yard."
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 25, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Graphic featuring FMCSA Chief Safety Officer Steve Dowling alongside the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration logo and U.S. Department of Transportation seal.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 20, 2026

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 →