Texas School Districts Struggle to Fund Seat Belt Mandate

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A new Texas law requires all school buses to have seat belts installed by 2029, but school districts across the state are facing significant funding challenges to meet this unfunded mandate. Longview ISD, for example, estimates it would cost $1.4 million to retrofit 42 buses without seat belts, money the district doesn't currently have. Districts are exploring options like auctioning off older buses, but there are also concerns about whether there will be enough vendors available to retrofit all the buses in time.

Why it matters

Student safety is a top priority, but the seat belt requirement places a heavy financial burden on school districts that are already facing budget constraints. This issue highlights the broader challenge of implementing new safety regulations without providing the necessary funding support.

The details

Last year, Texas passed a law requiring all school buses to have seat belts installed by 2029. Longview ISD's Transportation Coordinator, Darryl Dans, says this is an 'unfunded mandate' that leaves all the costs on the districts. Longview ISD currently has 31 buses with seat belts and 42 without. The estimated cost to retrofit the 42 buses is around $34,000 per bus, totaling $1.4 million. The district conducted a survey and determined they don't have the money for this right now, but they plan to auction off older buses to generate funds. Dans also notes there may not be enough vendors and supplies available to retrofit all the buses across Texas in time without delays.

• In 2022, Longview ISD started purchasing new buses with seat belts.
• The Texas seat belt mandate for school buses must be met by 2029.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Longview ISD plans to buy five new buses with seat belts every year as they work towards meeting the 2029 deadline. The district will also look to auction off older buses to generate funds for the retrofitting efforts.