HOUSTON, Texas — Texas school districts said they cannot afford the costs required under a new state law that mandates three-point seat belts on all school buses by September 2029, according to district statements and interviews with ABC13.
The law, Senate Bill 546, requires districts to install seat belts on their entire bus fleets and report the costs of compliance to the Texas Education Agency. The statute places responsibility for funding the upgrades on local school districts.
Houston Independent School District estimated compliance would cost more than $29 million, according to remarks made at a May board of managers meeting. District officials said they intend to seek an exemption from the requirement.
Splendora Independent School District reported an estimated cost of about $6.5 million to retrofit its buses. Pearland Independent School District said its current replacement schedule would require about 11 years to fully comply with the mandate.
District officials said they are exploring phased replacement plans but said full compliance would require significant time and funding.
Some administrators said they hope the Texas Legislature will reconsider funding mechanisms for the requirement or provide financial support to districts.
The Texas Education Agency said it is still collecting data from districts on the projected costs of compliance and expects to complete its review by the end of the year.
