# Maryland SB 0968: Education - School Bus - Fire Safety Standards

Maryland SB 0968, Education - School Bus - Fire Safety Standards, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jason C. Gallion (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 524) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0968-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0968
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Education - School Bus - Fire Safety Standards
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-13
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 524
- Sponsor: Jason C. Gallion (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Vehicle Laws - Equipment and Inspections, Primary and Secondary Education, Fire Protection, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, School Buses, Standards and Best Practices
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (175 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New fire safety rules for school buses: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland school buses must use seat materials that pass a national fire-block test. The driver’s seat is exempt. Bus makers and school bus operators must install compliant seats and materials. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration must adopt rules, with advice from the D…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jason C. Gallion (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 6 |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 41 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 524
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Environment and Transportation) (House)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Environment and Transportation Ways and Means (House)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (41-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {223529/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator Feldman) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {223529/1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Hearing 3/17 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Rereferred to Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: First Reading Senate Rules (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_524_sb0968t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0968t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0968f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_524_sb0968t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0968t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0968f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0968-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).