The Senate Transportation Committee recently reviewed two bills intended to enhance school bus safety. Senator Donna Campbell introduced SB 744, proposing the installation of cameras on school buses to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. Campbell highlighted federal statistics indicating over 45 million illegal passes each year, posing significant risks to student safety. "Illegal passing of stopped school buses are a significant threat to student safety," Campbell emphasized. In 2023 alone, 11 Texas students were killed by drivers ignoring stopped buses.
José Javier Vazquez, an experienced bus driver from Laredo's United ISD, supported the bill. He noted that a pilot program in his district recorded 2,100 illegal passes in just five months. Vazquez mentioned the difficulty in holding violators accountable without police presence or clear identification of the offending vehicles. The bill proposes collaboration between school districts and local law enforcement to issue citations or handle the process internally.
Senator José Menéndez introduced another bill to enforce three-point seatbelts in all school buses. He acknowledged the unequal distribution of seat belts across districts due to previous legislation allowing districts to waive the requirement if deemed financially burdensome. "One of my districts, less than half of their buses have three-point seat belts," Menéndez stated. He asserted the importance of three-point belts over two-point restraints, citing safety concerns. Menéndez's SB 546 requires districts to develop a plan for full seatbelt installation within four years, to be submitted to the Texas Education Agency and the legislature. "We need to identify the districts that need the additional help," Menéndez said, suggesting a potential grant program.
On the legislative floor, the Senate also passed SB 14, a bill led by Senator Phil King aimed at reducing regulatory burdens in Texas. This bill proposes the creation of a regulatory efficiency office to review regulations and suggest modifications. SB 14 also plans for a web portal to help business owners navigate state rules and aligns with the US Supreme Court’s stance on "Chevron deference." Lt. Governor Dan Patrick stated, “The Texas economy is the envy of America and the world. Texans understand that by cutting red tape, more money stays in the pocket of taxpayers.”
