Tennessee Lawmaker Seeks to Lower School Bus Driver Age Minimum

Rep. Mike Sparks proposes lowering the minimum age from 25 to 23 to address driver shortages, but critics raise safety concerns.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Tennessee state Rep. Mike Sparks has introduced a bill to lower the minimum age for school bus drivers from 25 to 23 years old, arguing it would expand the pool of eligible drivers and help address shortages faced by rural districts. However, other lawmakers like Rep. David Hawk oppose the measure, citing safety concerns and the need for more experience to handle a bus full of children.

Why it matters

School bus driver shortages have put pressure on many rural school districts in Tennessee, leading to route consolidations and other challenges. Lowering the minimum age could help alleviate these staffing issues, but critics argue that younger, less experienced drivers pose safety risks, especially after a deadly 2016 crash in Chattanooga involving a 24-year-old driver.

The details

Rep. Sparks' bill, House Bill 1790, would lower the minimum age to become a school bus driver in Tennessee from 25 to 23 years old. Sparks argues this is a "common-sense" move to expand the pool of eligible drivers and help districts struggling with shortages. However, Rep. Hawk opposes the proposal, stating that younger drivers often lack the real-life experience needed to safely operate a bus full of children. In 2016, a 24-year-old driver was involved in a crash in Chattanooga that killed six children, raising concerns about age and experience.

  • House Bill 1790 was introduced in the Tennessee legislature in March 2026.

The players

Rep. Mike Sparks

A Republican state representative in Tennessee who introduced a bill to lower the minimum age for school bus drivers from 25 to 23 years old.

Rep. David Hawk

A Republican state representative in Tennessee who opposes Sparks' bill, citing safety concerns about younger, less experienced drivers operating school buses.

Traci Chambers

The supervisor of transportation for Campbell County Schools in Tennessee, who discussed the challenges of driver shortages in rural districts.

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What they’re saying

“Really, it's a common-sense bill.”

— Rep. Mike Sparks (wbir.com)

“Some folks were younger than they should have been with no real life experience to handle their own car, let alone handle a bus full of children.”

— Rep. David Hawk (wbir.com)

“They (children) see them in the morning when they get on the bus, they see them when they get off.”

— Traci Chambers, Supervisor of Transportation, Campbell County Schools (wbir.com)

What’s next

The Tennessee legislature will consider House Bill 1790 and vote on whether to lower the minimum age for school bus drivers from 25 to 23 years old.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the difficult balance between addressing school bus driver shortages and ensuring the safety of students. While lowering the age minimum could expand the pool of eligible drivers, critics argue that younger, less experienced operators pose significant risks that should not be overlooked.