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HB 1818

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, requires boards of education that contract for transportation services with persons owning equipment to provide school transportation facilities to all students who live more than 1.5 miles by the nearest accessible route from the school to which they are assigned by the board of education and in which they are enrolled. - Amends TCA Title 49; Title 55, Chapter 4; Title 55, Chapter 50 and Title 55, Chapter 8.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Lowell Russell

Schools must provide bus transportation to students living over 1.5 miles away, creating potential unfunded mandate increasing district operating costs.

Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1818

Legislative bill overview

HB 1818 mandates that Tennessee school boards contracting for transportation services must provide school bus access to all students living more than 1.5 miles from their assigned school via the nearest accessible route. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code related to education, transportation, and vehicle regulations to implement this requirement.

Why is this important

This bill addresses student access to education by ensuring transportation is available to students in rural or distant areas, potentially reducing absenteeism and improving educational equity. However, it creates unfunded mandates that could significantly increase operating costs for school districts without corresponding funding increases, particularly impacting smaller or rural districts with fewer resources.

Potential points of contention

  • Unfunded mandate burden: School districts must provide transportation services but the bill does not appear to include state funding, shifting costs to local budgets already strained by other expenses
  • Contractor capacity and logistics: Rural areas may lack sufficient private contractors to meet demand, potentially requiring districts to operate their own fleets or negotiate higher contract rates
  • Route definition ambiguity: The "nearest accessible route" standard could create disputes over what qualifies as accessible and trigger litigation over compliance boundaries
  • Implementation timeline: Districts may need significant time and capital investment to establish new routes, bus purchases, and contractor relationships before compliance is feasible

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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