Bill
H 2581
Requires seatbelts on every permanent bus seat transporting students in MA, FMVSS-compliant; contractors must notify DESE; effective one year after enactment.
Purpose and scope
- The bill would enhance school transportation safety in Massachusetts by requiring seatbelts on all school buses used to transport students to and from public, charter, vocational, private, or parochial schools or in connection with school activities.
- It requires buses to have seatbelts for every permanent seating position and to meet applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
Key provisions
- Amendment to law: Adds a new requirement to Section 7B of Chapter 90 (as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition).
- Each permanent seating accommodation on every school bus used to transport children must be equipped with a seatbelt compliant with FMVSS.
- Any entity contracting with or intending to contract with a school district or a charter, vocational, private, or parochial school for transportation must file a notice with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) affirming that all school buses to be used under the contract comply with the seatbelt requirement.
- Implementation and notice timeline
- Effective date: The new requirements take effect one year after enactment.
- Existing contracts: Entities with contracts already in place on the date of enactment must notify DESE of when compliance occurs and no later than the effective date.
- Effective text scope: Applies to buses used for transportation of school children for public, charter, vocational, private, or parochial schools, or related school activities.
Implementation timeline and status
- Introduced: February 27, 2025.
- Legislative actions:
- Senate concurrence on February 27, 2025.
- Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
- Hearing scheduled for April 9, 2025 (04:00 PM – 12:00 PM) in rooms A-1 & A-2.
- July 24, 2025: Accompanied by H2574 (the companion/related measure).
- Related/breakout documents: HD 2741 is the replacing or updated reference; there was similar matter in 2023-2024 (H. 3791).
Affected parties
- School districts, charter schools, vocational schools, private schools, and parochial schools that operate student transportation.
- Private transport contractors and vendors contracted to provide school bus services.
- DESE, which would receive notices confirming compliance.
Potential impact
- Safety improvement: Mandated seatbelts on all permanent seats aligns with modern safety practices and FMVSS standards.
- Operational considerations: Retrofitting existing fleets and ensuring new buses are compliant may involve upfront costs and procurement planning.
- Compliance and oversight: Schools and contractors must maintain documentation and timely notices to DESE.
Notes
- The bill is a companion measure to H. 2574 and follows prior similar proposals (e.g., H. 3791 of 2023-2024).
- The exact FMVSS seatbelt specifications will be determined by federal standards; the bill requires compliance with those standards.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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