‘Another mandate without funding’: New Texas law could cost school districts millions
A new Texas law requires school districts to install three-point seatbelts on buses by September 2029, but the state is not providing funding for the upgrades, which could cost districts millions. The Texas Education Agency has announced a potential grant opportunity, but details are still in development.
Texas school districts are required to install three-point seatbelts on buses by September 2029 under Senate Bill 546. The law was passed in response to a 2024 crash that killed a pre-K student and a doctoral student. Districts must submit their budget limitations to the Texas Education Agency by May 29, 2025. The San Antonio Independent School District estimates it will need $15 million for the upgrades, while North East Independent School District estimates $19 million and Northside ISD estimates $52 million. The districts plan to purchase new buses to offset the issue of older buses unable to be upgraded. A single school bus with three-point seatbelts can cost between $160,000 and $185,000. The Texas Education Agency has not allocated a clear amount of grant funding toward alleviating the financial burden of the seatbelt updates.
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