SECURES Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced
Summary
Create national standards requiring seat belts on all new school buses. This bill would direct the Secretary of Transportation to publish a proposed rule within 180 days to set federal seat belt requirements for every new school bus, regardless of gross vehicle weight rating, and to weigh evidence on lap/shoulder (three-point) belts, seat belt detection and reminder systems, and State experience.
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- Students and families: Would push for wider use of lap/shoulder (three-point) belts, reflecting National Transportation Safety Board and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration findings on better protection.
- School districts and bus operators: Would face new equipment specifications for all new buses when replacing or buying vehicles.
- Bus manufacturers and designers: Would need to build seat belt systems and consider integrating detection or reminder technology into new models.
- Federal regulators: Would have to consider State experiences and innovative alert systems when writing the standard.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New seat belt rules for school buses
This bill would require the Department of Transportation to publish a proposed rule within 180 days after enactment. The proposed rule would set Federal seat-belt standards for all new school buses, whatever their gross vehicle weight rating. The rulemaking would direct the Secretary to consider lap/shoulder (three-point) belts and the National Transportation Safety Board and NHTSA safety findings. It would also require consideration of seat-belt detection, reminder, and violation alert systems and States' experience with belt-equipped buses. The bill would not itself set final standards or provide money to buy belts.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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