HB134 would require Maryland’s public school safety education program to include instruction on school bus safety and the proper use of seat belts on school buses. It also mandates that school buses purchased on or after July 1, 2027 and registered in the State be equipped with accessible 3-point seat belts for each seat. The bill is aimed at both educating students and changing the equipment standards for newer school buses.
The bill also makes related changes to existing transportation law governing school buses and seat belt use. It updates terminology in school bus operation provisions, and it adds a new rule that the failure of a school bus operator to ensure that an occupant was wearing a seat belt may not be the basis for a civil damages action against the operator, a school, a school district, or a municipality. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, but the school bus equipment requirement applies only to buses purchased later, beginning in 2027.
Impact
HB134 would amend the Education Article to require school safety education to cover school bus safety and seat belt use, and it would amend the Transportation Article to impose a new equipment standard for certain newly purchased school buses. In practical terms, it would affect school systems, school bus operators, bus purchasers, and manufacturers or sellers of school buses by requiring 3-point seat belts on qualifying buses and by limiting civil liability tied to seat belt nonuse on school buses. It also makes conforming changes to existing school bus and seat belt statutes, while leaving the general passenger-vehicle seat belt rules largely intact.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed as a safety measure with a preventive and educational focus. Its structure suggests support for stronger child passenger protection on school buses, while also reflecting concern about liability exposure for schools and bus operators. No formal vote history or transcript is available here to show broader legislative sentiment.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between improved student safety and the cost or feasibility of retrofitting or purchasing buses with 3-point seat belts. School systems, transportation providers, and bus manufacturers may be affected by the new equipment mandate, especially because it applies only to buses purchased after a future date. Another likely issue is the liability provision: the bill bars civil actions based solely on a school bus operator’s failure to ensure seat belt use, which may be viewed as necessary protection for operators and public entities, but could also be criticized by advocates who want stronger enforcement incentives. No committee debate or votes are provided, so these concerns are inferred from the bill’s structure rather than from recorded opposition.