SECURES Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced
Summary
Establish federal seat belt standards for all new school buses. This bill would require the Transportation Secretary to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking within 180 days to consider three-point (lap/shoulder) seat belts, belt detection and reminder systems, and state experience in setting a national standard.
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- Families and children: Focuses federal attention on improving passenger safety by centering three-point (lap/shoulder) belts, which the National Transportation Safety Board says offer the highest level of protection and reduce upper-body injuries.
- School districts and bus manufacturers: Would shape what new buses must include, affecting future purchases, vehicle design choices, and how new buses are specified and built.
- Regulators and states: Directs the rulemaking to weigh NTSB findings, a 2015 NHTSA statement favoring three-point belts, innovative detection or reminder technologies, and lessons from states that already require belts.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New seat belt rules for school buses
This bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking within 180 days. The rulemaking would consider new Federal standards for seat belts on all new school buses, regardless of gross vehicle weight rating. It would weigh safety findings supporting lap/shoulder (Type 2) or three‑point belts, a 2015 NHTSA statement in favor of three‑point belts, seat‑belt detection and reminder technology, and State experience. If finalized, these standards could make new buses require seat belts and may raise costs for manufacturers and school districts, which could be passed to local governments or households.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov