Transportation: school vehicles; procedures when approaching a school bus displaying yellow flashing lights; modify. Amends secs. 601b & 682 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.601b & 257.682).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Paquette

Requires drivers to slow and stop for a school bus with two alternately flashing yellow lights, stopping at least 20 feet away and not moving until the bus resumes.

defeated Roll Call #167 Yeas 52 Nays 51 Excused 0 Not Voting 7

#education:safety #education:transportation #transportation:schoolvehicles

Summary — HB 4214 (Michigan) — School bus yellow flashing lights; driver procedures

Purpose
HB 4214 would have amended the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.601b and 257.682) to clarify and add specific duties for drivers who approach a school bus displaying alternately flashing yellow (amber) lights. The intent was to increase safety for students by requiring drivers to slow and prepare to stop when a bus is about to stop.

Key provisions

Adds a new duty for drivers encountering a school bus displaying two alternately flashing yellow lights while the bus is stopped or stopping:

Immediately reduce speed and prepare to stop.
Bring the vehicle to a full stop at least 20 feet from the bus, and do not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the flashing lights are turned off.

Retains existing law for flashing red lights: drivers must stop not less than 20 feet away and not proceed until the bus moves or red lights are off.

Clarifies scope: the yellow- and red-light duties apply to vehicles traveling in either direction on the roadway, unless there is a median or other physical road division (with no crosswalk/pedestrian crossway) that separates the directions.

Defines “school bus zone” as the area within 20 feet of a stopped or stopping bus displaying two alternately flashing red or yellow lights (subject to the exceptions in section 682(2)).

Existing camera-based enforcement and civil-infraction framework for failing to stop for school buses (stop-arm camera evidence, citation procedures, and civil fines) remain in place; some committee substitute language (H-3) adjusted fine ranges between red-light and yellow-light violations.

Who is affected

Motor vehicle drivers statewide (all passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles) — especially drivers on routes where school buses stop.

School districts and law enforcement agencies using stop‑arm camera systems (evidence and citation procedures remain relevant).

Courts and local governments to the extent enforcement and citation volumes change.

Enforcement, penalties & fiscal impact

Failure to stop for a bus displaying red lights remains a civil infraction with specified fines (existing law: typically $100–$500; committee substitutes proposed differing ranges for yellow vs. red in some versions).

Fiscal impact: indeterminate. Additional civil infractions could increase revenue to support public/county law libraries and the Justice System Fund via $40 justice system assessments; local court workload impacts would vary.

Legislative history and status

Introduced by Rep. Brad Paquette, referred to Transportation & Infrastructure (introduced March 2025).

Committee substitute reported favorably (H-1); later substitute (H-3) considered.

On 2025‑06‑26 the bill (with substitute H-3) was defeated on the floor — Roll Call #167: Yeas 52, Nays 51, Excused 0, Not Voting 7.

Supporters who testified or registered in favor included the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation, and Bus Patrol America.

Note: This summary describes the Michigan HB 4214 package concerning school-bus yellow-light procedures and related Vehicle Code amendments as considered in 2025.